How to Plan a Gridfinity Drawer Layout

Printing without a plan wastes filament. You'll end up reprinting bins because you guessed wrong on sizes, leaving gaps you didn't want, or forgetting what you needed. This guide covers how to measure, plan, and get a print list before you start.

Measure Your Drawer

Get the inside dimensions in millimeters. You need:

Measure at a few spots. Drawers are rarely perfect rectangles, especially older furniture. Use the smallest measurements to be safe.

Convert to Grid Units

Gridfinity uses 42mm units. Divide and round down:

Width:  380mm ÷ 42 = 9.04 → 9 units
Depth:  260mm ÷ 42 = 6.19 → 6 units

A 9×6 grid is 378mm × 252mm. You'll have small gaps at the edges. That's fine. Baseplates don't need to fill every millimeter.

Figure Out What Goes In It

Most people skip this and regret it.

Take everything out of the drawer. Group it:

The daily stuff needs to be accessible. The weekly stuff can go in back. The forgotten stuff might not need a bin at all.

Match Items to Bin Sizes

Rough guidelines:

Items Bin Size
M3 screws, small components 1×1 with dividers
Pens, USB drives, batteries 1×2 or 2×2
Screwdrivers, pliers 1×3 or 1×4
Tape, glue bottles 2×2 or 2×3
Large tools 3×3 or bigger

Don't obsess over this. You can always print different bins later.

Plan the Layout

Open the tool and set your grid size. Drag to create bins. The tool won't let you overlap or go out of bounds.

Put frequently-used items near the front. When you open the drawer, what do you reach for first? That goes in front.

Group related items. Screwdrivers in one spot, measuring tools in another. You'll remember where things are.

Leave some empty space. Your collection will grow. A drawer that's 100% planned today is a problem tomorrow.

Use Layers for Tall Drawers

If your drawer has height clearance, you can stack bins vertically. Layer 1 is the bottom.

This works well for:

Keep heavy things on the bottom, frequently-used things on top.

Export Your Print List

When you're happy with the layout, export a print list:

Finding STL Files

You can generate custom bins directly with the built-in bin generator — choose your dimensions, base style, compartments, and export as STL, STEP, or 3MF.

For specialized bins (tool-specific holders, complex shapes), search community repositories:

Example search: "gridfinity 2x2 3U" finds 2×2 bins that are 3 height units tall.

Before You Print

Test with cardboard first

Cut cardboard to your bin sizes (42mm per grid unit) and arrange them in the drawer. If something feels wrong, you haven't wasted any filament.

Print one bin first

Before printing 20 bins, print one. Check the fit, check the height, and make sure you like the design. Adjust your printer settings if needed.

Check your clearance

Your tallest bin plus baseplate (about 5mm) needs to fit when the drawer closes. Measure this before committing to tall bins.

Common Mistakes

Too many tiny bins. A grid of 1×1 bins looks organized but is annoying to use. Larger bins with dividers are usually better.

Filling every square. This leaves no room for new items. Plan for 10-20% empty space.

Ignoring what you actually use. Don't organize around what you think you should have. Organize around what you reach for.

Open the Layout Tool →

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure a drawer for Gridfinity?
Measure the inside dimensions of the drawer in millimeters — width (left to right), depth (front to back), and clearance height (bottom to top with the drawer closed). Take measurements at several spots since drawers are rarely perfect rectangles, and use the smallest value for each dimension to be safe.
How do I convert drawer dimensions to Gridfinity grid units?
Divide each dimension by 42mm and round down. For example, a 380mm × 260mm drawer fits a 9×6 grid (378mm × 252mm), leaving small gaps at the edges. The gaps are fine — baseplates don't need to fill every millimeter.
What bin sizes should I use for Gridfinity?
As a starting point — 1×1 with dividers for small screws and components; 1×2 or 2×2 for pens, USB drives, and batteries; 1×3 or 1×4 for screwdrivers and pliers; 2×2 or 2×3 for tape and glue; 3×3 or larger for big tools. You can always print different sizes later if something doesn't fit right.
How tall can a Gridfinity bin be?
Bin height is limited only by your drawer's clearance and your printer's Z height. Heights are measured in 7mm units (U). A 6U bin is 42mm tall internally, a 9U bin is 63mm tall. Check your tallest bin plus 5mm for the baseplate against the drawer's closed clearance before printing.
Should I use multiple layers in deep drawers?
Yes, if you have height clearance. Stack bins vertically with layer 1 on the bottom. Keep heavy items on the bottom, frequently-used items on top. This works well for separating flat items (cables) from tall bins, or for keeping electrical separate from mechanical.
How do I export a Gridfinity print list?
Once your layout is done in the tool, the print list shows every bin size, the quantity needed, filament estimates in grams, and search links for each size on Printables, Thangs, and MakerWorld. You can also generate custom bins directly with the built-in bin generator and export STL, STEP, or 3MF files.
How much empty space should I leave in a Gridfinity drawer?
Leave 10-20% empty space. A drawer that's 100% planned today becomes a problem tomorrow when your collection grows or your needs change. Empty grid squares cost nothing and give you room to add bins later.
What is the best printer for Gridfinity?
Any FDM printer with at least a 256mm × 256mm bed prints Gridfinity bins comfortably. Bambu Lab X1, A1, and P1S are popular for their speed. Prusa MK4 and Ender 3 V3 KE also work well. For drawers larger than 6×6 grid units you'll want to either tile baseplates or use a larger-format printer like the Bambu X1E or a Voron 2.4.