Twin-Size AA and AAA Battery Caddy
One block that keeps both AA and AAA batteries upright and countable, so you can see what is left at a glance and pull one out with a finger.
Twin-Size AA and AAA Battery Caddy
One block that keeps both AA and AAA batteries upright and countable, so you can see what is left at a glance and pull one out with a finger.
Date: 2026-11-07 Category: Organization and Storage Modeling difficulty: Beginner Estimated print: ~6 h total · ~150 g PLA (estimate) Suggested price: $14–$22 printed · $4 digital file (estimate) Status: Concept
Description
The Twin-Size AA and AAA Battery Caddy is one solid block, 106 by 80 by 40 mm. The left side has twelve wells for AA cells in a three by four grid. The right side has fifteen smaller wells for AAA cells in a three by five grid.
Cells stand upright with the top 12 to 15 mm sticking out, so you can see what is left and pull one out with a finger. It prints flat with no supports, and the whole thing is a rectangle with round holes, so a beginner can model it in an afternoon.
It lives in a kitchen drawer or on a workshop shelf. A shallow label recess on the front takes a stick-on label or paint pen.
Why it sells
Demand evidence here is thin, and I'll say so. A Pixup3D March 2026 roundup lists a snap-on AA and AAA battery box as a useful household print, without download numbers. Guides from Pixup3D, QZY Models and 3Dprinterly name functional organizers as steady sellers, again without sales data. The gap this fills: the listed box is single-size and themed, while this one holds both sizes in an open grid with the cell count visible.
Who buys it
Households and workshops with a drawer of loose batteries, and gift buyers looking for a small practical present. Sold at craft markets, on Etsy, and as a free-to-paid file on Printables and MakerWorld.
Design overview
- 12 AA wells and 15 AAA wells in one block.
- Open wells, so any cell can be pulled with a finger and the count is visible.
- Cell tops stand 12.5 to 14.5 mm proud for an easy grip.
- Flat base and no supports, one print of about 6 h.
- Differentiator: both sizes in one block, with the well dimensions given for real cells.
Dimensions
| Measurement | Value (mm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Overall width (X) | 106 | |
| Overall depth (Y) | 80 | |
| Overall height (Z) | 40 | |
| AA well diameter | 15.2 | 14.5 mm cell plus 0.35 per side |
| AA well depth | 36 | cell is 50.5 long, so 14.5 stands proud |
| AA well pitch | 18 | 3 columns × 4 rows = 12 wells |
| AAA well diameter | 11.2 | 10.5 mm cell plus 0.35 per side |
| AAA well depth | 32 | cell is 44.5 long, so 12.5 stands proud |
| AAA well pitch | 14 | 3 columns × 5 rows = 15 wells |
| Wall between wells | 2.8 | 7 perimeter lines at 0.4 mm |
| Floor under AA / AAA wells | 4 / 8 |
Parts list
| Part | Qty | Material | Size X×Y×Z (mm) | Print orientation | Supports |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caddy body | 1 | PLA | 106×80×40 | Flat on the bed, open wells up | none |
Hardware and non-printed parts
None — fully printed.
Fits and tolerances
- Battery in well: loose, 0.35 mm per side (15.2 mm for a 14.5 mm AA, 11.2 mm for a 10.5 mm AAA). Make it 0.25 if you want a snugger hold; print a one-well test first because printers differ.
Modeling guide
Origins and axes are in step 1.
- Origin at the lower-left-front corner of the block; +X right, +Y toward the back, +Z up. Sketch on XY: rectangle 106 x 80, corner radius 3. Extrude 40.
- Chamfer the top outer edge 1.0.
- AA wells: on the top face, circles 15.2 dia centred at X = 13, 31, 49 and Y = 13, 31, 49, 67 (12 wells). Cut 36 deep, leaving a 4 mm floor.
- AAA wells: circles 11.2 dia centred at X = 68, 82, 96 and Y = 12, 26, 40, 54, 68 (15 wells). Cut 32 deep, leaving an 8 mm floor.
- Fillet each well's top edge 0.6 so batteries drop in without catching.
- Optional front label: on the front face (Y = 0) cut a recess 60 wide x 14 high x 0.6 deep centred at X = 53, Z = 20.
Print settings
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Material | PLA, one or two colours. A colour change at z = 38.8 gives a thin top accent. |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm |
| Layer height | 0.2 mm |
| Walls / perimeters | 4 |
| Infill | 15% gyroid |
| Supports | none |
| Brim / adhesion | none |
| Notes | Print flat. Add a 1.2 mm contrasting top layer by a colour change at z = 38.8 if you want an accent colour. Not for storing damaged or leaking cells. |
Assembly
No assembly. Prints ready to use.
Variants and upsells
- Other layouts: 2 × 4 for a wall mount, 6 × 6 for an AA-only tray.
- C and D cell version, and 9 V slots.
- Gridfinity-footprint base so it sits in a Gridfinity drawer.
- A bundle of three blocks with colour labels for new, used and rechargeable.
Selling and distribution
Craft markets and Etsy suit a printed block; the file suits Printables and MakerWorld. Price from about 150 g of PLA plus roughly 6 h of printer time plus a margin: $14 to $22 printed, $4 for the file (estimates). A personalised label and a colour choice justify the higher end.
Keywords: battery organizer, AA battery holder, AAA battery storage, battery caddy, drawer organizer, 3D printed organizer, workshop storage, kitchen drawer organizer, battery tray, junk drawer organizer.
Risks and IP notes
- Market: battery holders are everywhere and cheap. Mitigation: the colour and label options and the combined sizes.
- Demand is based on blog claims, not sales data. Mitigation: print a small batch before listing in volume.
- Safety: not designed for damaged or leaking cells or as a safety container. Mitigation: say so in the listing.
- Tolerances: 0.35 mm per side is a starting point. Mitigation: print a one-well test.
- IP: no brand names (avoid cell brand names in titles). Mitigation: use "AA" and "AAA" only.
Resource links
- Pixup3D: Top 15 3D printable models, March 2026 — Lists a snap-on AA/AAA battery storage box as a useful household print; gives no download numbers
- Pixup3D: what to sell at your first craft fair — Recommends functional items such as phone stands and cable holders; no sales data
- QZY Models: 23 best 3D prints to sell in 2026 — Names practical gadgets, organizers, cable organizers and kitchen tools as profitable categories; no sales figures
- 3Dprinterly: how to find profitable 3D prints in your niche — Says functional prints hold steady year-round and cites sellers' self-reported desk-accessory earnings
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