Printable Geometric Solid Nets
Free printable geometric solid nets to cut out and glue into 3D shapes — cube, cuboid, tetrahedron, square pyramid, triangular prism, octahedron, cone and cylinder. Each net lays flat with solid cut lines, dashed fold lines and trapezoidal glue tabs. Choose plain outlines or colourful faces, and print 1 to 6 nets per page at exact scale.
A net is what you get when you unfold a 3D shape and lay it flat. Cut around the solid outline, crease along every dashed fold line, then fold the shape up and glue each trapezoidal tab underneath the neighbouring face to close the seams. The tabs are shaped as trapezoids on purpose — the sloped sides tuck neatly under the adjoining face and disappear inside the model, giving clean edges and a strong join. These make brilliant hands-on maths resources for teaching faces, edges and vertices, and for classroom displays, dice, gift boxes, ornaments and craft projects.
Pick the solid you want, then choose how it looks. Leave it as a plain black-and-white outline for a colouring activity or an ink-saving print, set a single face colour, or let every face take a different colour from a bright palette (press Reshuffle for a new random set). Choose 1, 2, 4 or 6 nets per page and drag the size slider to make each net larger or smaller within its space. Everything prints at exact physical scale, so the models come out the size you expect.
The cube and cuboid unfold into the familiar cross of six rectangles; the tetrahedron is a large triangle split into four; the square pyramid is a square base with four splayed triangles; the triangular prism is two triangular caps with three rectangular sides; the octahedron unfolds into a band of eight triangles; the cone becomes a pie-slice sector plus a tabbed circular base; and the cylinder is a rectangle that rolls into a tube with two circular ends. Every net includes the glue tabs needed to close it up.
Printing at exact scale
Every sheet is drawn in real millimetres and prints at exact physical scale. For accurate output, set Scale = 100% (Actual size) and Margins = None in your browser's print dialog. Not sure your printer is honest? Run the printer ruler test first to confirm 50 mm really measures 50 mm. Prefer a file? Use the PDF, PNG or SVG buttons to download the sheet instead of printing — PDF and SVG keep the exact dimensions, and PNG is a 300 DPI image.
Frequently asked questions
What is a net of a solid?
A net is a two-dimensional pattern that folds up into a three-dimensional shape. It shows every face of the solid laid out flat and joined along the edges that fold. Cutting out the net, folding on the creases and gluing the tabs turns the flat pattern back into the solid.
How do I build the model?
Print the sheet, cut around the outer solid line (including the trapezoidal tabs), then score and fold along every dashed line. Fold the shape into form and glue or tape each tab underneath the face it meets. Trapezoidal tabs are designed to slide under the adjoining face so the seams sit flat and hidden.
Why are the glue tabs trapezoid-shaped?
The sloped sides of a trapezoid let the tab tuck under the neighbouring face without poking out at the corners. That gives a cleaner edge and a stronger, less bulky join than a rectangular flap.
Which line is cut and which is fold?
Solid lines are cut lines — cut along these, including around the tabs. Dashed lines are fold lines — crease along these but do not cut them. The optional legend at the top of the page reminds you which is which.
Can I print them without colour?
Yes. Choose No colour for a plain black-and-white outline, which is perfect as a colouring activity or to save ink. You can also pick a single face colour or let every face take a different random colour.
How many nets fit on a page?
Choose 1 for a single large model, or 2, 4 or 6 to fit several on one sheet. The size slider adjusts how much of each space the net fills.
What are these good for?
Teaching faces, edges and vertices; nets and surface area in maths; making dice, small gift boxes, ornaments, party decorations and craft models; and hands-on geometry for all ages.
Is it really free?
Yes. Every template on printsheet.io is completely free, with no sign-up, no account and no watermark. Generate as many sheets as you like.
How do I get an exact-scale print?
Choose your paper size, then in the print dialog set Scale to 100% or “Actual size” and Margins to None. The sheet is defined in real millimetres, so it prints at true size. Use the calibration ruler page to verify.
Which paper sizes are supported?
A4, A5, A3, A6, US Letter, Legal and Tabloid, in portrait or landscape. Pick the size that matches the paper loaded in your printer.
Can I save it as a PDF instead of printing?
Yes — choose “Save as PDF” as the printer in your browser's print dialog. The PDF keeps the exact millimetre dimensions.
Can I download it as an image (PNG or SVG)?
Yes — as well as Print and PDF, every sheet has a PNG and an SVG download button. PNG gives you a high-resolution (300 DPI) image at the exact page size, ideal for pasting into a document or sharing. SVG is a scalable vector file that stays razor-sharp at any size and can be edited in tools like Inkscape or Illustrator. Both are generated in your browser from the sheet you see on screen.