The functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) (0.5–5 wt.%) are compounded with high density polyethylene (HDPE), and, subsequently, used for extruding nanocomposite filaments to fabricate nanocomposites (NCs) and functionally graded nanocomposites (FGNCs) through 3D printing. The 3D printed NCs are investigated for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and buckling under different non-uniform temperature distributions (case-1: left edge heating, case-2: centre heating, and case-3: left and right edge heating). A significant reduction in CTE is observed with MWCNT addition and gradation. The highest reduction in CTE is observed for H5 (5 wt.% of MWCNT in HDPE) NC and H1 ⟶ H3 ⟶ H5 (FGNC-2) among the NCs and the FGNCs. It is noted that Tcr (critical buckling temperature) is highest for case-3 and lowest for case-2. The highest deflection is noticed in case-2, while no significant difference is observed in case-1 and case-3 heating conditions. It is also observed that Tcr increases with gradation and MWCNTs addition. The H5 NC and FGNC-2 exhibited the highest Tcr among the NCs and FGNCs, respectively. The maximum deflection is noticed for HDPE, whereas the minimum deflection is noticed for FGNC-2 and H-5 NC among the tested samples. The results also revealed that Tcr is very sensitive to type of heating. © 2023 Society of Plastics Engineers.