No More Boring Paper Towel Holders: He 3D-Printed A Better One

It's safe to say that most paper towel holders are pretty boring. With a simple circular base and a central rod to hold the roll, they aren't exactly exciting to look at. However, you don't have to settle for that basic style anymore, as we learned in a tutorial from TikTok creator Gazzalara. In the tutorial, he shows us how he over-engineered a colorful, highly functional 3D-printed paper towel holder with some genius hidden features that help keep the kitchen clean and solve certain issues he'd experienced with other holders.

When designing this product, the creator says one of his goals was to prevent the paper towels from getting wet while he used the sink. To do that, he created an outer case that wraps around the roll, so it's protected against splashes and spills. However, the towels aren't completely covered; there's also a notch in the center so you can easily grab them with your fingers. There's also a knob that spins in both directions, so you can twist it to get more towels or retract it if you accidentally pull out too many at once. On the bottom, there are indentations where you can add feet so the holder doesn't slide around your counter.

This thoughtfully designed product could solve other problems, too. In the comments on the TikTok video, one user said their cat has been treating their paper towels like a scratching post, and this could help prevent that. Similarly, if you have kids who love unwinding the roll, the cover could slow them down and help cut down on paper towel use.

If you have access to a 3D printer, you can download the files from Gazzaladra's shop to make one of these holders yourself. Since paper towel rolls vary in height and diameter, Gazzaladra's holder comes in multiple sizes, including three for makers in the U.S.: one for standard rolls, one for big rolls, and one for Costco-sized rolls.

In terms of material, you'll want to use polylactic acid (PLA) when printing this paper towel holder. The project uses between 460 and 600 grams of PLA, depending on the version you choose. You'll use a standard 0.4mm nozzle, with a lightweight 15% infill density. The creator split the holder into two sections because he says that a paper towel roll's height often exceeds the maximum height that 3D printers can go. The two sections fit neatly together to form the final product.

Before printing this design, it's also worth considering some of the feedback that users who have previously used it have provided. One of the most common complaints was about sizing, so you'll want to measure your preferred paper towels first, and double-check that you choose the right size before buying the files. In addition, several people said they were disappointed that the upper and lower parts don't lock together, as it's hard to move the holder without the pieces separating. That might not be a deal-breaker for everyone, but it's good to keep in mind — especially if you clean or re-organize items on your countertops often.