DrawSTL Open Editor

Home and desk

Box with lid: type the inner size, get box and lid together

This page opens the DrawSTL box with lid template: a parametric rectangular storage box with a press-fit lid that you size in millimetres and download as a print-ready STL. Width, depth and height are inner dimensions and the wall is added outside them, so typing 60x40x30 mm really gives you that much usable space.

The template builds box and lid in one file, side by side on the bed. The lid is a flat plate with a lip that drops into the box, and that lip is shrunk by the tolerance value to create the friction fit.

Open in editor See the sizes

Free, no sign-up. Change the sizes in millimetres and download the STL.

DrawSTL box with lid template: a rounded-corner box and its press-fit lipped lid standing side by side on the print bed

Ready-made variants

Each variant is the same template with different settings. Follow the link and the editor opens with those values.

Adjustable sizes

These values are edited in the editor's template panel. A number outside the range is clamped to the nearest limit automatically.

SizeRangeDefault
Inner width X10–300 mm60 mm
Inner depth Y10–300 mm40 mm
Inner height5–200 mm30 mm
Wall0.8–10 mm2 mm
Corner radius0–30 mm4 mm
Tolerance0.1–0.6 mm0.2 mm

What it is used for

  • Sorting screws, nuts and washers on the bench
  • A simple enclosure for a circuit board, sensor or wiring
  • Drawer organizer and desktop storage bin
  • Travel case for cards, pills or earbuds
  • A quick size test before committing to a bigger design

Printing tips

Orientation
Both parts sit flat on the bed: the box opening faces up and the lid lip faces up. No rotation needed.
Layer height
0.2 mm. Go to 0.28 mm for speed, or 0.16 mm when you want the lid fit as accurate as possible.
Infill
10-15% is enough for the floor. Pick a wall thickness that is a multiple of your nozzle width, so 1.6 or 2 mm on a 0.4 mm nozzle.
Supports
None. Every overhang on both parts is a vertical wall.
Material
PLA gives crisp corners and good accuracy. Choose PETG if the lid gets opened often, since the lip flexes every time and PETG does not crack the way PLA can.

Tips

  • A 0.2 mm tolerance gives a friction fit. Try 0.3 mm if the lid is hard to push on, 0.1 mm if it feels loose.
  • If your first layer over-extrudes, a bulge forms at the base of the lip; scraping that edge usually fixes a tight fit.
  • Box and lid share one file and print together, so delete one in the slicer if you only need the other.

Choosing the lid tolerance

Tolerance sets how much smaller the lid lip is made than the inner size of the box. The template shrinks the lip in both directions, leaving room for the dimensional error every FDM printer has.

You only calibrate it once: print a test at 0.2 mm, see how the lid grips and adjust from there.

  • 0.1 mm: tight fit, needs a firm push and will not rattle
  • 0.2 mm: friction fit, the default, correct on most printers
  • 0.3-0.4 mm: easy fit, good for boxes opened every day
  • 0.5-0.6 mm: loose, the lid simply rests on top

Wall thickness and corner radius

On a 0.4 mm nozzle, 1.6 mm (4 lines) suits light boxes and 2.4 mm (6 lines) suits boxes that get carried or loaded. Since the wall is added outside your inner size, the outer dimension is the inner width plus two walls.

The corner radius rounds the outside corners, which feels better in the hand and improves layer bonding at the corner. Set it to zero for a sharp-edged, case-like box.

Frequently asked questions

Are the dimensions I type inner or outer?

Inner. The wall is added outside, so outer width equals inner width plus two wall thicknesses. Keep that in mind when the box has to fit a shelf.

Do the box and the lid come in one file?

Yes. Both parts sit 8 mm apart on the bed, so a single print gives you the pair. Delete one in the slicer if you do not need it.

The lid is too tight, do I have to reprint everything?

Usually not. Scrape the first-layer bulge at the base of the lip and try again. If it still binds, raise the tolerance by 0.1 mm and reprint the lid only.

Can the box be made watertight?

It is not meant for liquids. The press fit has no gasket and FDM layer lines can seep. Use it for dry, small items.

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Set the sizes to fit your part

Open the template in the editor, enter your values and download a print-ready STL. No account needed.

Open in editor