How to 3D Print a Relief Map of Any Place (Free STL)

Updated July 2026 · 6 min read

A flat map shows a place. A 3D printed relief map lets you hold it — the mountains, valleys and coastlines rise off the surface in real, tactile relief. Here's how to turn any location on Earth into a 3D-printable model, download a free STL, and print it — with a full-colour printed-and-shipped version coming soon.

🚧 Heads up — this is in preparation. The free STL download is available now. The full-colour 3D printed relief map (which we print in colour and ship to you) is coming soon — you can already preview it in the editor and register your interest, and we'll email you the moment it launches.

What is a 3D printed relief map?

A relief map is a model of the terrain itself. Instead of drawing hills and mountains, it raises them: the height of the model at every point matches the real elevation of the land. PrintMap builds this model from open elevation data (a digital elevation model, or DEM), so a printed relief of the Alps, the Grand Canyon rim, a Greek island or your local trail looks and feels like the real landscape in miniature.

It's perfect for:

Hikers & climbers — a summit, a pass, or a multi-day trek as a tactile keepsake.
Travellers — an island, a coastline, or a national park you love.
Gifts — "where we met", a hometown valley, a favourite mountain.
Teachers & makers — a hands-on model of real terrain.

⛰️ Terrain only. A relief map models the land surface — mountains, valleys, rivers and coastlines. Streets and buildings are not raised as separate 3D objects; on the full-colour version they appear as colour printed onto the surface. (A separate 3D city model with raised buildings may come later.)

Two ways to get your 3D map

1. Free STL download (available now). Download a ready-to-print STL file of the terrain and print it yourself on any 3D printer, or send it to a printing service. It's free, with no account.

2. Full-colour 3D printed relief map (coming soon). We take your exact map, fuse it onto the physical terrain, print it in full colour, and ship the finished piece to you — no printer needed. This is in preparation; you can preview it in the editor today and we'll notify you at launch.

Step 1 — Find and frame your place

Open the PrintMap editor and search for a place — a mountain, an island, a stretch of coast, a city or a trail. Move and zoom the map so the area you want sits inside the print frame. Terrain with real elevation change (mountains, canyons, islands) makes the most striking relief; very flat areas will print nearly flat.

Step 2 — Add your route (optional)

If you want to feature a hike, ride or road trip, import a GPX, KML or GeoJSON track or use the route planner. On the 3D model your route is engraved as a raised ridge, so you can feel the exact path across the terrain.

Step 3 — Download the free STL

Open Export for Print and choose 🏔 Download 3D model (STL). You can set the size (longest side in millimetres), a height boost to exaggerate the relief, and the detail level. PrintMap builds a watertight model — a solid base, walls and a terrain top — ready to slice. The elevation comes from open DEM data (Terrarium / AWS Open Data), so it's free to use.

💡 A little height boost (vertical exaggeration) makes gentle terrain read much better in print. For big mountain ranges you can keep it lower for a realistic look.

Step 4 — Print it (or let us print it)

Open the STL in your slicer — PrusaSlicer, Bambu Studio, Cura or similar — and print it on your own machine, or upload it to a 3D printing service. Prefer a finished, full-colour piece delivered to your door? The full-colour 3D printed relief map is coming soon — preview it in the editor and we'll let you know as soon as ordering opens.

Make your 3D relief map

Download a free STL of any place now — full-colour printed & shipped coming soon.

Create your map →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 3D map free?

The STL download is completely free, with no account and no watermark — print it on your own 3D printer or send it to a service. The full-colour printed-and-shipped version is a paid product that is coming soon.

Does it include buildings?

No. A relief map models the terrain — mountains, valleys, rivers and coastlines. Streets and buildings are not raised as separate 3D objects; on the full-colour version they appear as colour printed on the surface.

Where does the elevation data come from?

From open digital elevation models (Terrarium / AWS Open Data, based on SRTM and Copernicus), so the STL is free to download and print.

When will the full-colour 3D print be available?

It's in preparation and coming soon. You can preview it in the editor today and register your interest, and we'll email you the moment full-colour ordering opens.

What size can I print?

You choose the size — commonly 15–25 cm on the longest side for a desktop piece. The STL is built to your chosen dimensions.