Gridfinity Explained: The 42 mm Modular Storage System
Gridfinity is an open, 3D-printable storage standard built on a 42 mm grid, so any bin fits any baseplate no matter who designed or printed it.
Updated 20 October 2026 · 7 min read
Gridfinity is a modular storage system designed by Zack Freedman and released as an open design in 2022. It defines a 42 mm square grid and a 7 mm height unit, plus a matching profile for baseplates and bin bottoms. Because the dimensions are fixed and public, thousands of community designs – from simple boxes to holders for specific screwdrivers, bits and batteries – drop into the same baseplate. This guide explains the dimensions, the parts, the options worth printing and how to plan a drawer so the grid fits.
What is Gridfinity?
Gridfinity has two kinds of part:
- Baseplates – thin grids that sit in the drawer or on the bench. Each cell has a sloped pocket.
- Bins – containers whose bottom has a matching foot for each grid cell. A bin snaps into any baseplate cell(s) and can be lifted out and moved around.
The appeal is that layout becomes a software problem. Instead of designing a custom organiser for each drawer, you print a baseplate once and keep rearranging bins as your tools change. Bins designed by different people are interchangeable because they all follow the same profile.
Gridfinity dimensions: the 42 mm grid and 7 mm height unit
| Dimension | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grid pitch | 42 mm | Centre-to-centre spacing of baseplate cells |
| Bin footprint per unit | 41.5 mm | 0.5 mm smaller for clearance between neighbouring bins |
| Height unit (u) | 7 mm | Bin heights are given in multiples, e.g. 3u, 6u |
| Magnet | 6 mm × 2 mm disc | Optional, pressed into the bottom of bins and/or baseplates |
| Screw | M3 | Optional, for fixing bins to the baseplate or plates to a surface |
Bin sizes are written as width × depth × height in units, so a 2×1×3 bin is 84 × 42 mm on the grid (83.5 × 41.5 mm actual) and three height units tall. A 1×1 bin is the smallest standard size; 1×2, 2×2 and 2×3 cover most small parts.
Baseplates vs bins: which do you need?
Baseplates
The basic baseplate is just the grid profile and prints quickly with little filament. Common variants:
- Plain / lite – minimal material, sits loose in a drawer. Fine when the drawer walls hold it in place.
- Magnet baseplate – adds pockets for 6 × 2 mm magnets under each cell so steel-free bins with magnets hold firmly.
- Weighted baseplate – a thicker plate with cavities for weights such as coins or steel, so a loose plate on a bench does not slide.
- Screw-down baseplate – countersunk holes to fix the plate to a shelf, wall panel or the bottom of a drawer.
Bins
Bins are where the variety is. The base design takes options such as:
- Dividers – split a bin into compartments along X or Y.
- Label tab – an angled ledge along the back wall for a printed or written label.
- Scoop – a curved front inner wall so you can slide small parts out with a finger.
- Stacking lip – the top edge of the bin repeats the baseplate profile, so another bin can sit on top of it.
- Magnet and screw holes – in the feet, for use with magnet or screw baseplates.
Do Gridfinity bins need magnets?
No. The profile alone keeps bins from sliding sideways in a drawer, and many users never add magnets. Magnets help when:
- the baseplate is on a wall, tilted surface or tool cart that gets moved,
- bins are light and get knocked by other items, or
- you want a satisfying click when placing bins.
Use 6 × 2 mm neodymium discs, press-fit or glued. One magnet per corner of each unit is standard, so a 2×2 bin can take up to 16. Check polarity before gluing a batch, and keep strong magnets away from mechanical watches and credit cards. If you never plan to use magnets, turn the holes off: bins print faster and the feet are stronger.
What the stacking lip does
The stacking lip lets a bin act as a mini baseplate, so you can stack 1×1 bins on a 1×1 bin, or put a lid on top. It adds a few millimetres above the bin's nominal height and narrows the opening slightly. Leave it off for bins that live in shallow drawers or need maximum access, such as screwdriver holders; keep it for bins in deep drawers or open shelves where vertical stacking saves space.
How to print Gridfinity bins and baseplates
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Material | PLA for drawers; PETG for garages and workshops that get warm |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm standard; 0.6 mm cuts time noticeably on large plates |
| Layer height | 0.2 mm; 0.28 mm is fine for baseplates |
| Walls | 2–3 perimeters |
| Infill | 10–15% for bins; baseplates are mostly walls anyway |
| Supports | Not needed for standard bins and baseplates |
| Orientation | Flat, bottom down |
Tips that save failed prints:
- Calibrate dimensional accuracy first. If your printer over-extrudes, bins jam in the baseplate. Print one 1×1 bin and a 2×2 baseplate as a fit test before running a full plate.
- Watch for elephant's foot. A squashed first layer makes the bin feet slightly wide. Use your slicer's elephant foot compensation (around 0.1–0.2 mm) if bins feel tight.
- Vase mode bins exist for very fast, light prints. They are thin-walled and best for light items.
- Time: print time scales mainly with wall area and height. Batch many small bins on one plate rather than printing them one by one; the travel and heat-up overhead is shared.
How to plan a Gridfinity drawer layout
- Measure the inside of the drawer at its narrowest point, wall to wall, and the usable height with the drawer closed.
- Divide each side by 42 and round down. That is your grid count.
- Work out the leftover. Subtract grid count × 42 from the measurement. Under about 1 mm is too tight; aim for 1–3 mm total clearance or add a spacer/filler strip in the gap.
- Split the baseplate to fit your printer bed (see table below). Pieces simply butt against each other; there are also connector clips if you want them locked.
- Choose bin heights from the drawer height: subtract the baseplate and some clearance, then divide by 7 mm. If the bin has a stacking lip, allow for that too.
- Sketch the bin layout on a grid on paper or a spreadsheet: one cell per 42 mm. Large tools get 2×3 or 3×4 bins; small parts get 1×1 or 1×2.
Worked example: a drawer measuring 400 × 300 mm inside gives 9 × 7 cells (378 × 294 mm) with 22 mm and 6 mm left over. Centre the grid and fill the 22 mm side with a printed spacer, or leave it for long items like rulers.
| Bed size | Largest single baseplate |
|---|---|
| 180 × 180 mm | 4 × 4 (168 mm) |
| 220 × 220 mm | 5 × 5 (210 mm) |
| 256 × 256 mm | 6 × 6 (252 mm) |
| 350 × 350 mm | 8 × 8 (336 mm) |
Using a Gridfinity generator
Downloading fixed-size STLs works until you need a 3×5 bin with two dividers and no magnets. A parametric generator saves you from hunting for that exact file. The Gridfinity bin and baseplate generator lets you set grid width, depth and height, dividers, label tab, scoop, stacking lip and magnet or screw holes, then download an STL. It runs in the browser, so you can tweak and re-export in seconds.
A typical workflow:
- Generate the baseplate pieces for your drawer and print one to test the fit.
- Generate a single 1×1 bin with your chosen options and test it in the plate.
- Generate the rest of the bins and batch them on full build plates.
- Preview anything unusual in the STL viewer before printing, and use the 3D print cost calculator if you are printing a whole workshop's worth.
For bin labels, a small embossed name from the text to STL tool fits on the label tab, or simply use a paper label.
FAQ
What size is a Gridfinity unit?
The grid pitch is 42 × 42 mm and the height unit is 7 mm. A bin's actual footprint per unit is 41.5 mm to leave 0.5 mm clearance between neighbouring bins.
Is Gridfinity free to use?
Yes. Zack Freedman published Gridfinity as an open design, and the community shares compatible models freely. You can print it for your own use and design your own compatible bins.
What magnets does Gridfinity use?
6 mm diameter × 2 mm thick neodymium disc magnets, one at each corner of every grid unit. They are optional.
Why do my Gridfinity bins not fit the baseplate?
Usually over-extrusion or elephant's foot makes the feet slightly too large. Calibrate flow, enable elephant foot compensation, and test with a single 1×1 bin before printing a batch.
Can I print Gridfinity in PLA?
Yes, PLA is the most common choice for indoor drawers. Use PETG for places that get hot, such as a car or a garage in summer, since PLA softens at around 55–60 °C.