Gridfinity is a modular storage system you 3D print yourself. Zack Freedman, a maker and YouTuber, released it in 2022. There are now over 10,000 free designs on Printables alone.
The idea is simple: everything uses a 42mm grid. Bins rest on baseplates. Baseplates tile to fill any drawer. When you need to reorganize, pick up the bins and move them.
How It Works
A Gridfinity setup has two parts:
Baseplates go in your drawer. They're flat grids with a raised pattern that holds bins in place. You tile them to cover whatever space you have.
Bins hold your stuff. They come in grid sizes (1×1, 2×2, 3×1, etc.) and heights measured in 7mm units. A 3U bin gives you about 21mm of internal height.
The bins have a profiled base that mates with the baseplate pattern. They stay put when you open the drawer but lift out easily when you need them.
Why People Use It
You print exactly what you need. No buying a 12-pack of bins when you need 2. No hunting for the right size. If a bin exists for your specific drill bits or screws, you print it.
Everything is compatible. A 2×2 bin from one designer works with a baseplate from another. Every design follows the same spec.
It's free. The designs are open source. The only cost is filament. A typical bin uses 20-40 grams of PLA.
Finding Designs
The community has made bins for most common needs: screwdriver holders, battery organizers, drill bit trays, cable management.
Search for what you need (e.g., "gridfinity 2x2 battery holder") and you'll find options.
What You Need to Start
A 3D printer. Any FDM printer works. PLA is standard.
Measurements. Your drawer's inside dimensions in millimeters. See the sizes reference for conversion.
A plan. How many grid units fit, what bins you need, where they go.
This tool helps with step 3. Mock up your layout, see how everything fits, then export a list of what to print. You can also generate custom bins with STL, STEP, and 3MF export directly in your browser.
Next Step
If you're ready to plan a drawer, the guide walks through measuring, planning, and exporting a print list.
A Gridfinity bin is a 3D-printed storage container that sits on a Gridfinity baseplate. Bins come in grid sizes (1×1, 2×2, 3×1, etc., where 1 unit equals 42mm) and heights measured in 7mm increments. The profiled base mates with the baseplate pattern so bins stay put when you open the drawer but lift out easily.
How big is a Gridfinity unit?
One Gridfinity grid unit is 42mm × 42mm. Heights use a separate 7mm increment, often called "U". So a 2×2 bin with height 3U is roughly 84mm × 84mm × 21mm internal.
What is the difference between a Gridfinity bin and a baseplate?
Baseplates are flat tiles that go in your drawer and form the 42mm grid. Bins are the containers that hold your stuff and rest on the baseplate's pattern. You print baseplates once to cover the drawer, then print whatever bins you need on top.
What filament should I use for Gridfinity bins?
PLA is the standard choice and what most community designs are optimized for. PETG works well if you want more durability or impact resistance. ASA or ABS make sense if the bins live somewhere warm (garage, attic). Avoid PLA in hot cars.
How much filament does a Gridfinity bin use?
A typical 2×2 bin uses about 20-40 grams of PLA depending on height and infill. A 1×1 bin is around 8-15g. Baseplates are heavier per unit — roughly 25-30g per grid unit.
How long does a Gridfinity bin take to print?
A 2×2 bin runs about 1-2 hours at standard speeds (50-80 mm/s). Bambu Lab and other fast printers cut this to 20-40 minutes. Baseplates take longer per unit because of the surface area.
Do Gridfinity bins fall out when you open the drawer?
No. The baseplate's raised pattern creates enough friction to hold bins in place during normal drawer use. They're not locked, so you can lift them straight up to remove them, but they don't slide around when you open or close the drawer.
Can I buy Gridfinity bins instead of printing them?
Yes — many sellers offer pre-printed bins on Etsy, Amazon, and direct-from-maker shops. It's an option if you don't have a 3D printer, though printing yourself is usually cheaper per bin once you account for shipping.
Is Gridfinity free?
Yes. Gridfinity is open-source. The community designs are free to download from Printables, Thangs, and MakerWorld. Your only cost is filament.