7 weekend 3D printing projects for people who love books and reading (Nov 6 - 8)

Published Nov 6, 2026, 10:00 AM EST Tim has been covering technology for almost 20 years, in that time spanning a broad range of topics from security to product reviews. He is especially focused on the Apple ecosystem, productivity, and consumer advice. Over the years Tim has written thousands of articles, reviews, and round-ups in addition to producing video content and original photography. A graduate of journalism, he found his footing as a freelancer with a laptop and loves how he is able to work from practically anywhere. Now a Senior Editor for iPhone, Mac, and Smart Home at How-To Geek, Tim still loves to write. He can also be found crafting round-ups and productivity posts for the Zapier blog. Earlier in his career Tim spent nearly a decade as a writer and eventually Apple section editor for MakeUseOf. Tim currently lives in Brisbane, Australia. Outside of work he loves to hike and work out, play video games, and spend quality time with his wonderful partner and two cats Inka and Roger. Your 3D printer can be used to enhance a whole range of hobbies, reading included. This includes fun ways to display your books, keep track of your progress, or even enjoy reading more comfortably. Here are some ideas to get you started. Bookends Keep your books upright and tidy while showing a little personality Credit: dastoole / MakerWorld Bookends do two things: they keep books upright and neat, and they look good while doing it. While many of us think of bookends as heavy items that withstand the weight of the books they’re supporting, they don’t necessarily have to be. The cleverest designs are lightweight and feature a small platform that sits underneath the books, using the weight of the reading material to keep things in place. There are so many 3D-printed bookends to choose from, each varying in style and design. One of my favorites is the monstera bookend because I’m a big fan of tropical plants. Other fun designs include modern arches, honeycombs, strictly functional minimalist designs the balloon dog, and these flower pots which have enough room for real plants. Book stands and shelves Make the most of your space with books that are easy to access Credit: Layron / MakerWorld Some books are released as a series, which means that they share the same size and shape. This is particularly true of graphic novels, manga, and classic collections. Being able to exhibit your books while still being able to access them is a nice touch, which is where elevated book shelves and tiered book stands come in. Beyond this there are many more ways to show off your books, from freestanding shelves to invisible bookshelves and floating book stacks. If you just want to show off a small curated collection on your walls, the incline book shelf is a nice touch too. Book page holder For a helping hand while reading Credit: fifindr / MakerWorld The book page holder is a design you might have already seen shared online because it’s incredibly popular (I’ve even featured it alongside other ergonomic 3D printing projects in the past). You can either print yourself a rotating book page holder that has a floating ring that moves with you, or keep it simple with a static version that works just as well. The holder keeps your book open without requiring you to contort your wrists into an uncomfortable position. It’s especially good if you find yourself reading at odd angles, like when lying on your side. A whole library’s worth of bookmarks You’ll never lose your place again The world isn’t short on bookmarks; you can use almost anything to keep track of your place. Printing a bookmark isn’t about fulfilling a demand you can’t easily get from opening a drawer, but more about finding ways to express your personality and make yourself smile. I couldn’t resist printing the Witch King of Angmar from The Lord of the Rings trilogy for my partner, who is a massive fan. You’ll find all manner of other bookmarks to choose from online, like this colorful zipper, a folded paper sailboat, a squashed rat, and a cute loch ness monster that pokes out the top of your book. Reading rulers (guides) Make reading more accessible Credit: Sealsmile.Design / MakerWorld While the world has no shortage of bookmarks, book rulers serve another purpose. They make reading more accessible for some folks by showing only one line at a time. Anyone who relies on them might have one or two, but it can never hurt to have a few lying around in case they go missing. Printing them in a filament like PLA also means they’ll be more resilient compared with their paper counterparts. You’ll find plenty of these online, including reading rulers that double up as bookmarks and other simple designs. Remember that you can always use your slicer’s scaling function to make the guide larger or smaller. A counter for books you’ve read this year Motivate yourself to read more Credit: mcfly2015 / MakerWorld Most of us know that we should read more, but it’s easy to fall off the wagon. Keeping count of how many books you’ve read might just be the motivation you need to keep up the pace, and you can do so easily with a 3D-printed book counter that sits on your bookshelf. It’s worth noting that this technique won’t work for everyone, and for some the opposite effect may be achieved. Cookbook stand Keep a book open and in place Credit: tyson.gibby / MakerWorld You can use a cookbook stand or an elegant book stand to prop open a book while you use it. The obvious use here is for recipe collections, but there are plenty of other reasons you might want to do this. Maybe you love to draw and are using a book as a reference, or maybe you’re learning a new skill and are using a book to guide you. Alternatively, maybe you have some books you love to exhibit for their beautiful artwork. If you love reading, consider investing in an eReader. A jailbroken Kindle gives you total control over your digital collection, while maintaining your own library is just one way self-hosting can boost your favorite hobbies.