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 armies of 30 models or more. It looks unified on the table and it is fast. Expect roughly $8–18 (USD) for a 28 mm infantry model.
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 costs about 1.6 times tabletop, roughly $13–29 per infantry model. 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 full week.
Expect about 3 times tabletop, and much more for characters and monsters. This level suits a hero, a centerpiece or a competition entry. Nobody sensible orders it for 60 infantry.
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, and painters can quote each level side by side.