Purpose　The　purpose　of　this　paper　is　to　propose　a　novel　method　to　prepare　pure　Ti　powder　for　3D　printing　with　tailorable　particle　size　distribution.　Design/methodology/approach　The　main　procedures　of　the　present　method　consist　of　gas　state　reaction　to　synthesize　TiH2　nanoparticles,　agglomeration　to　obtain　micronscale　powder　particles　by　spray　drying,　and　densification　of　particle　interior　by　heat　treatment.　Findings　The　prepared　Ti　powder　has　a　specific　bimodal　particle　size　distribution　in　a　range　of　small　sizes,　good　sphericity　and　high　flowability.　Particularly,　this　new　technique　is　capable　of　controlling　powder　purity　and　adjusting　particle　size.　Originality/value　To　the　best　knowledge　of　the　authors,　the　approach　for　preparing　3D　printing　metallic　powders　from　nanoparticles　has　not　been　reported　in　the　literature　so　far.　This　work　provides　a　novel　method　that　is　particularly　applicable　to　prepare　3D　printing　metallic　powders　which　have　small　initial　particle　sizes　and　high　reactivity　in　the　air.