What Are the MultiBoard and MultiBin Subsystems in MultiBuild?

Updated

MultiBuild is a free, modular 3D-printed organization system built around a 25 mm global standard. Within it, MultiBoard and MultiBin are two separate but compatible subsystems: MultiBoard is the mounting and structural layer, while MultiBin is the storage and containment layer. You can use either on its own, but they are designed to connect to each other, so the practical answer is that MultiBoard holds things up and MultiBin holds things in.

MultiBoard: the mounting and structure layer

MultiBoard is described as a "ridiculously modular connection board." Its job is to give you a surface and a frame to attach things to.

  • Mounting: Use it to mount tools, hold heavy supplies, or build 3D structures.
  • Placement: It can be mounted on a wall or stood on a desk.
  • Expansion: It accepts hooks, shelves, and "countless accessories," so the board itself is just the starting point.

If your problem is "I have nowhere to hang or stand this," MultiBoard is the subsystem you start with.

MultiBin: the storage and containment layer

MultiBin is a "highly modular bin and drawer system" for tools, craft supplies, hardware, and household items. Its defining trait is adaptability rather than fixed sizes.

  • Connect: Bins link to each other.
  • Customize: Their function can be changed to fit what you're storing.
  • Mount: They can be attached to boards.
  • Convert: They can be turned into drawers.

If your problem is "I have small items with no home," MultiBin is the subsystem you start with.

How they differ at a glance

Dimension MultiBoard MultiBin
Primary role Mounting surface and structure Storage and containment
Typical use Tools, heavy supplies, 3D structures Tools, craft supplies, hardware, household items
Placement Wall-mounted or desk-standing Connected together, mounted on boards, or used as drawers
Expansion Hooks, shelves, accessories Reconfigurable function, drawer conversion

How they work together

Because the subsystems are compatible with each other, the intended pattern is layered:

  1. Put up a MultiBoard where you need a work surface or wall area.
  2. Add hooks and shelves for tools and bulky items.
  3. Mount MultiBin bins onto the board for small parts.
  4. Connect additional bins to each other, or convert them into drawers, as your storage needs change.

This is why MultiBuild describes itself as an ecosystem that "grows with you" — you are not choosing between the two subsystems, you are choosing which one to start with and adding the other when the need appears.

What to check before you commit

  • The 25 mm standard: Both subsystems are designed around it, so compatibility between parts depends on staying within that system.
  • Your space: Wall-mounted boards suit garages and workshops; desk-standing boards suit offices and kitchens.
  • Your item mix: Mostly hanging tools points to MultiBoard first; mostly loose small parts points to MultiBin first.
  • Cost and access: The site presents parts as free downloads, with MultiBuild described as the "#1 Most popular on Thangs" and trusted by "50,000+ makers worldwide." It does not state pricing or login requirements for downloads, so verify those on the site itself before planning a build.

If you want a single starting point, pick the subsystem that matches your biggest current annoyance — mounting or containing — and expand into the other once the first setup is in place.