Miniature painting commission prices: what studios publish
Every painting studio prices differently. Some charge per model, some per unit, some only quote whole projects. Below are prices from studios' own pages when we checked, then what's behind the differences. Prices change, so treat these as examples and check the studio's page before ordering.
What studios publish
| Studio | Pricing model | Published price | What it covers / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Just Games Rochester | Per mini | $25 per mini | 10% off for every 3 characters, up to 40% off at 12 or more. Other commissions quoted at $50–$500 depending on size and detail. Turnaround 30–90 days |
| WÉKES MINIS | Per mini, by type | €18 infantry, €30 hero | Base prices for single miniatures; bundles, basing and upgrades priced through their quote builder |
| Minis For War | "From" prices, high-level tier | From $85 USD per hero, from $550 USD per 10-model infantry unit, from $1,150 USD for a Combat Patrol | Includes assembly, painting and custom bases. Exact quote on request |
| Narval Painter Studio | Per project | Projects start at €300 | Recent examples: €324–€459 for compact forces, €665–€958 for larger collections, €1,113–€1,660+ for army-scale. The studio says "there is no honest universal price per miniature" |
| K.C. Holt Miniature Painting | Per project, by tier | No public prices | Three tiers: Tabletop Ready, Tabletop Plus, Display Quality. 50% non-refundable deposit to book |
A few patterns show up. Per-model prices are quoted per model type: a hero costs more than a rank-and-file trooper. Army pricing is usually a project quote, not per-model maths. And "from" prices are a floor, not an average.
The tiers, in plain words
Most studios use some version of three levels. Names differ, the idea doesn't.
- Tabletop. Base coats, a wash and highlights. Clean and game-ready from arm's length. This is where most army commissions sit.
- Tabletop plus. More layering and detail. Characters and centrepiece units stand out.
- Display. Smooth blends, fine detail, freehand. Made for close-up photos, competitions and cabinets. Priced per model, and much higher.
Ask which tier a published price refers to. A low per-model price and a high one may simply be different tiers.
What's usually extra
The headline price often leaves things out. Narval lists shipping, buying the models, customs or import duties, and scope changes as typically separate. Check each of these:
- Assembly and prep. Cleaning mould lines, gluing, filling gaps. Some studios include it (Minis For War says theirs does), others charge separately.
- Basing. Plain, textured or scenic. Scenic bases add time.
- Stripping old paint from second-hand models.
- Magnetising weapons or parts.
- Shipping both ways. Your unpainted models go to the studio and come back painted. Pack well and insure.
- Import duties and taxes if the studio is in another country. Usually charged to the buyer on arrival.
- Deposit. Common. K.C. Holt asks 50% upfront and non-refundable.
How to get comparable quotes
Write one brief and send it to every painter:
- Model list, with counts by type (troops, characters, vehicles, monsters)
- Assembled, unassembled or needs stripping
- Tier for each group (e.g. troops tabletop, characters display)
- Colour scheme with reference images
- Base style
- Deadline and your shipping country
Then the quotes describe the same job and you can compare on price, portfolio and timeline. On The Spool List, painters bid on your post. Your payment is held until you confirm the models arrived as agreed.
Tabletop vs display: what you actually get at each level
Painters use three levels, and the names mean different things to different people. Agree on the level in writing before you accept a bid, or you will argue about it later.
Tabletop
Clean at arm's length. Base coats, a wash, one or two drybrushed highlights, painted base rim. Faces and eyes are simple dots or blocks of color.
This is the right level for large armies. It looks unified on the table and it is the fastest. Per model, it is the lowest-priced of the three.
Tabletop+
The middle level, and the one most people actually want. Everything in tabletop, plus:
- Edge highlights on armor and cloth
- Painted eyes and face detail
- Cleaner metals with shading
- Textured bases with a painted finish
It takes noticeably more painter time than tabletop, so bids rise with it. It reads well on the table and holds up when someone picks the model up. Most army commissions land here.
Display
Built for close inspection. Smooth blends, glazing, freehand details, object-source lighting, scenic bases. A single model can take a painter a very long time.
Per model, it sits well above tabletop, and more again for characters and monsters. This level suits a hero, a centerpiece or a competition entry. Nobody sensible orders it for a whole rank of infantry.
What moves the price at every level
| Factor | Which way it pushes |
|---|---|
| Painting level | Higher level, more hours, higher price |
| Model size | Larger models and monsters cost more than infantry |
| Model count | More models can lower the per-model price at lower levels |
| Basing | Scenic bases add time |
| Deadline | A tight date pushes it up |
A quick way to choose
| Your situation | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Large army for games | Tabletop or tabletop+ |
| Army with hero models that stand out | Tabletop+ for troops, display for heroes |
| Gift or shelf piece | Display |
| Testing a painter | One tabletop+ sample model |
Mixing levels in one commission is normal. Ask for tabletop+ for the rank and file and display for the two models everyone will look at.
Put it in the brief
Send a photo of a finished model whose look you like. A reference photo settles the level faster than any adjective. Say the level, the basing, and how many models each applies to.
Ready to get bids? Post your minis on The Spool List. Posting is free, and painters can quote each level side by side.
Tabletop vs display: what you actually get at each level
Painters use three levels, and the names mean different things to different people. Agree on the level in writing before you accept a bid, or you will argue about it later.
Tabletop
Clean at arm's length. Base coats, a wash, one or two drybrushed highlights, painted base rim. Faces and eyes are simple dots or blocks of color.
This is the right level for large armies. It looks unified on the table and it is the fastest. Per model, it is the lowest-priced of the three.
Tabletop+
The middle level, and the one most people actually want. Everything in tabletop, plus:
- Edge highlights on armor and cloth
- Painted eyes and face detail
- Cleaner metals with shading
- Textured bases with a painted finish
It takes noticeably more painter time than tabletop, so bids rise with it. It reads well on the table and holds up when someone picks the model up. Most army commissions land here.
Display
Built for close inspection. Smooth blends, glazing, freehand details, object-source lighting, scenic bases. A single model can take a painter a very long time.
Per model, it sits well above tabletop, and more again for characters and monsters. This level suits a hero, a centerpiece or a competition entry. Nobody sensible orders it for a whole rank of infantry.
What moves the price at every level
| Factor | Which way it pushes |
|---|---|
| Painting level | Higher level, more hours, higher price |
| Model size | Larger models and monsters cost more than infantry |
| Model count | More models can lower the per-model price at lower levels |
| Basing | Scenic bases add time |
| Deadline | A tight date pushes it up |
A quick way to choose
| Your situation | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Large army for games | Tabletop or tabletop+ |
| Army with hero models that stand out | Tabletop+ for troops, display for heroes |
| Gift or shelf piece | Display |
| Testing a painter | One tabletop+ sample model |
Mixing levels in one commission is normal. Ask for tabletop+ for the rank and file and display for the two models everyone will look at.
Put it in the brief
Send a photo of a finished model whose look you like. A reference photo settles the level faster than any adjective. Say the level, the basing, and how many models each applies to.
Ready to get bids? Post your minis on The Spool List. Posting is free, and painters can quote each level side by side.
Tabletop vs display: what you actually get at each level
Painters use three levels, and the names mean different things to different people. Agree on the level in writing before you accept a bid, or you will argue about it later.
Tabletop
Clean at arm's length. Base coats, a wash, one or two drybrushed highlights, painted base rim. Faces and eyes are simple dots or blocks of color.
This is the right level for large armies. It looks unified on the table and it is the fastest. Per model, it is the lowest-priced of the three.
Tabletop+
The middle level, and the one most people actually want. Everything in tabletop, plus:
- Edge highlights on armor and cloth
- Painted eyes and face detail
- Cleaner metals with shading
- Textured bases with a painted finish
It takes noticeably more painter time than tabletop, so bids rise with it. It reads well on the table and holds up when someone picks the model up. Most army commissions land here.
Display
Built for close inspection. Smooth blends, glazing, freehand details, object-source lighting, scenic bases. A single model can take a painter a very long time.
Per model, it sits well above tabletop, and more again for characters and monsters. This level suits a hero, a centerpiece or a competition entry. Nobody sensible orders it for a whole rank of infantry.
What moves the price at every level
| Factor | Which way it pushes |
|---|---|
| Painting level | Higher level, more hours, higher price |
| Model size | Larger models and monsters cost more than infantry |
| Model count | More models can lower the per-model price at lower levels |
| Basing | Scenic bases add time |
| Deadline | A tight date pushes it up |
A quick way to choose
| Your situation | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| Large army for games | Tabletop or tabletop+ |
| Army with hero models that stand out | Tabletop+ for troops, display for heroes |
| Gift or shelf piece | Display |
| Testing a painter | One tabletop+ sample model |
Mixing levels in one commission is normal. Ask for tabletop+ for the rank and file and display for the two models everyone will look at.
Put it in the brief
Send a photo of a finished model whose look you like. A reference photo settles the level faster than any adjective. Say the level, the basing, and how many models each applies to.
Ready to get bids? Post your minis on The Spool List. Posting is free, and painters can quote each level side by side.
FAQ
Why is display painting so much more expensive? It takes many more hours per model. Smooth blending, eyes and freehand are slow work.
Is it cheaper to paint a whole army at once? Often per model, yes. Just Games publishes a multi-character discount, and army-scale project quotes spread setup time across many models. Ask each studio.
Should I send models assembled? Ask the painter. Some prefer to assemble themselves so they can paint hard-to-reach areas first.
How long does a painting commission take? It depends on the queue and the size of the job. Just Games quotes 30–90 days. Put your deadline in the brief so painters who can't make it don't bid.
Post your painting job free on The Spool List and compare bids from independent painters.