8 clever 3D prints that give an empty Altoids tin a second life

Published Nov 15, 2026, 4:00 PM EST Joe Fedewa has been writing about technology for over a decade. Android and the rest of the Google ecosystem have been a focus for years, as well as reviewing devices, hosting podcasts, filming videos, and writing tutorials. Joe loves all things technology and is also an avid DIYer and food blogger. He has written thousands of articles, hundreds of tutorials, and dozens of reviews. Before joining How-To Geek, Joe worked at XDA-Developers as Managing Editor and covered news from the Google ecosystem. He got his start in the industry covering Windows Phone on a small blog, and later moved to Phandroid where he covered Android news, reviewed devices, wrote tutorials, created YouTube videos, and hosted a podcast. From smartphones to Bluetooth earbuds to Z-Wave switches, Joe is interested in all kinds of technology. After several years of jailbreaking and heavily modifying an iPod Touch, he moved on to his first smartphone, the HTC DROID Eris. He's been hooked ever since. Altoids is a classic brand that I can only assume has been around since the beginning of time. Impressively, the packaging might be more iconic than the mints themselves, and that has led to people 3D printing some cool stuff for the empty tins. People have reused Altoids tins for a variety of purposes. They’re great for sewing kits, low-tech wallets, mini toolboxes, first aid kits, and even electronics housing. 3D printing, in particular, is a perfect pairing for these little metal containers. It’s a cheap, blank, and standardized canvas for creativity. Here are a few of my favorites. Connect 4 Your new waiting game Let’s start with the one that I immediately printed for myself. This is a fully playable Connect 4 board that fits inside an Altoids tin. The grid and the little discs are printed, and the whole thing tucks away when you’re done. It’s not as satisfying as dropping chunky plastic discs into the full-size version, but it’s a great little game to throw into a travel bag. I’ll be playing this with my son the next time we’re waiting for food at a restaurant. SD & MicroSD Card Holder Finally, a place for all those cards Credit: Printables Many of us have a drawer with a handful of loose SD cards in it (and I have no idea what’s on them). This insert fixes that by giving each card its own snug slot. It holds 12 full-size SD and 12 microSD cards, and the tin keeps them protected in a camera bag or backpack. This is one of the most practical things on the list. It is also one of the easier ones to print, since it’s just a simple insert without any extra pieces. Mini toolbox, maximum usefulness Altoids tins have been used as DIY toolboxes for ages, but a printed insert takes it to the next level. This design holds a small Toolcraft ratchet, an extender, and eight sockets in custom-fitted cutouts, so nothing rattles around. I’ve dabbled in designing my own mini toolboxes, but I like that this one focuses on one tool. It would be great to keep in a glove box or bike bag. Sometimes, it’s not necessary to carry a full-size, heavy ratchet set to a project. Coin Battery Storage Organized by size Credit: Maker World Coin cell batteries are very annoying to store in a drawer. Once the packaging has been opened, they love to fall out and disappear among the junk. This insert gives different sizes (CR2032, CR2025, and CR2016) their own spots so you can grab the right one without guessing. It’s also a bit safer than tossing them in a drawer, where they can touch each other or other metal objects. The designer also has models for holding only one size if you want to use a tin for each one. Drill Bit Organizer Small bits, big mess Credit: Printables Drill bits are another thing that can easily get messy. I never like the stock containers that they come in. This organizer holds 30 1/4-inch bits in neat rows (and room for a couple extra loose bits), and the tin keeps the whole thing compact enough to toss in your pocket or a tool bag. Battleship You sunk my tin Credit: Printables If you’re going to make Connect 4, you might as well make Battleship, too. This one uses both halves of the tin as the two playing surfaces, and you’ll need a second tin for player two. Battleship is already a commonly shrunken-down travel-size game, and I love how well the tin suits it. We’re definitely pushing the boundary of how small you can make Battleship while keeping it playable, but it does work. Fishing Tackle Box Gone mintin’ Fishing hooks, lures, and weights are small, sharp, and easy to lose in even the most well-organized full-size tackle box. This smaller version maintains the same tiered design with compartments for all the gear you would need for a quick trip to the lake or while kayaking. It’s also very cute. Altoids Tin Rack Storing the storage Credit: Maker World Finally, we need to organize the organizers. Once you start repurposing your Altoids tins, you’re going to end up with a lot of them, and they need somewhere to go. This simple rack holds four tins without using a ton of filament. This is actually a great way to use the tins without printing inserts to go inside them. A rack with empty tins is a great organization system in and of itself. Time to eat some mints The best part about these projects is how low the barrier to entry is. You don’t need much filament, the prints are generally small and quick, and the tins are practically free if you’re willing to eat the mints. And that’s not hard at all.