Figures and decor · 2026
3D figure printing for collectibles and decor
Where can I get a figure 3D printed if I don't have a printer?
If you have the file for a figure but no printer, you can have a maker print it: upload the STL to Fabrishare and get offers with price and lead time within 24–48 hours, free and with no obligation. A 20 cm figure costs between €21 and €55, a 75 mm bust between €15 and €40 and a small 28 mm figure between €8 and €23, excluding VAT and shipping. Almost every figure is printed in resin, because it's the technology that gives the fine detail a figure needs. And most arrive unpainted: whoever orders one usually wants to paint it.
The figures people order most
Of the 110 registered requests between May and October 2026, 40 were decorative or collectible figures or jewellery: the largest group, ahead of gaming miniatures (28) and spare and functional parts (26).
Figures as gifts
The most common case. A birthday, a wedding, a friend getting their favourite character. Usually 10 to 20 cm, in resin, unpainted, to paint afterwards.
Personalised 3D printed giftsVideo game, anime and film characters
Collectible figures for the shelf. Usually 15 to 25 cm, often split into parts that arrive separately for assembly.
3D printed anime figuresCustom big-head figures
Funko Pop style: big head, small body, about 10 cm. One unit, almost always as a gift, in a plain colour to paint.
Custom figurine from photosCar and motorbike models
Scale replicas of the customer's own car or motorbike, usually 1:18 or about 15 cm long, to paint in the original's colours.
Scale model cars and motorbikesBusts
75 mm collectible busts, and busts of real people from a ready-made 3D model.
3D printed bustsDioramas and scenes
Several pieces assembled into a scene. People often order a first test piece and, if they like the result, the rest.
Scale dioramas and scenesDecor and ornaments
Pieces to hang or stick on, Christmas ornaments, religious figures, decorative plaques.
3D printed Christmas ornaments
Resin or FDM for a figure?
Resin, almost always. Of the figure jobs that came in with the technology already chosen, 24 asked for resin and 1 for FDM. The reason is simple: a figure is looked at up close, and resin gives sub-millimetre detail and a smooth surface, without the visible layers of filament. Rule of thumb: detail and small size, resin; large size and decorative use without fine detail, FDM.
Resin, for
- Fine detail seen up close: faces, hair, textures.
- A smooth surface with no visible layers.
- Small and medium figures, busts and collectibles.
FDM makes sense if
- The figure is large (over 25 cm): it's quite a bit cheaper, at the cost of more sanding.
- It will be kept outdoors.
- Budget matters more than finish.
How much does it cost to 3D print a figure?
Prices for the whole job, excluding VAT and shipping. Each maker sets their final price after seeing the file. What moves the price most is height: in resin, print time is set by how tall the part is, not by how many fit on the build plate. A 20 cm figure doesn't cost twice as much as a 10 cm one: it costs quite a bit more, because the machine is busy twice as long with a single part. Next comes the finish: a figure straight off the printer is the cheapest; removing supports, sanding, priming or painting is quoted separately.
| Part | Technology | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 mm miniature | Resin | €8 – €23 | — |
| Batch of 10 × 28 mm miniatures | Resin | €34 – €92 | €57 |
| 75 mm bust | Resin | €15 – €40 | €25 |
| 20 cm figure | Resin | €21 – €55 | €34 |
Painted or unpainted
Most figures are ordered unpainted.
It makes sense: whoever orders a figure usually wants to paint it, and painting is the part they enjoy. If that's you, ask for the part in a plain, light colour: white or grey show the detail best and hold primer best.
If you want it finished, say so in the project: some makers paint, and they quote it as a separate line. What you can ask for, from least to most:
- Printing only, with supports on.
- Supports removed and washed.
- Support marks sanded.
- Primed and ready to paint.
- Hand-painted and varnished.
Size: always say it
The most common mistake when ordering a figure is not giving the final size. An STL can be scaled to any height, and the price changes completely depending on the size it's printed at.
Always give the height you want in millimetres. If you're not sure, give a reference: «Funko size», «the same size as this other figure I have», «about 15 cm without the base». A maker can rescale the file easily, but needs to know to what. Two more things worth saying:
- Whether it has a base, and whether it's printed separately.
- Whether the figure comes split into parts in the file, and whether you want them assembled or loose so you can paint them more easily.
If it's a gift, order with time to spare
Of the 40 figure jobs, more than half were marked «no rush» and only two asked for less than three days. It's the cheap way to order: a maker who can fit your figure into a gap in their queue gives a better price than one who has to rearrange.
If the figure is for a set date (a birthday, Christmas, a wedding), count backwards: offers within 24–48 hours, the printing and finishing time the maker gives you, and shipping. Ordering two weeks ahead is cheaper and takes away the risk of cutting it close.
The file and its licence
90% of figures come with the file ready: 36 of the 40 jobs. Usually you've bought or downloaded it, not created it.
Before ordering, check what the file's licence lets you do. Many models from shops and Patreon are for personal use, and some don't allow a third party to print them for you.
If you don't have a file, it can be modelled from scratch from photos and references, or a physical part can be scanned. It's quoted separately: describe it in the project and the makers who design will give you a price.
How to order your figure
- 1Upload the file, a photo or the idea. If you have the STL, better: the price is more accurate.
- 2Give the height, colour and finish. If you want to paint it yourself, ask for a plain colour.
- 3Get offers within 24–48 hours, compare price and lead time, and choose. Free, no obligation.
Questions about 3D figure printing
How much does it cost to 3D print a figure?
A 20 cm resin figure costs between €21 and €55, a 75 mm bust between €15 and €40 and a small 28 mm figure between €8 and €23, excluding VAT and shipping. The price depends mostly on height, because in resin print time is set by how tall the part is. Each maker sets their final price after seeing the file.
Can I order a figure as a gift?
Yes, it's the most common case. Order with time to spare: more than half of figure jobs are no-rush, and that makes them cheaper. Allow 24–48 hours for offers, plus printing time and shipping, and leave a couple of weeks if the figure has to arrive by a date.
Can they paint it for me?
Yes, some makers paint, and it's quoted separately from the printing. Even so, most figures are ordered unpainted because the people who order them want to paint them. If you're painting it yourself, ask for a plain, light colour.
Resin or FDM for a figure?
Resin almost always: it gives the fine detail and smooth surface a figure needs. FDM makes sense for large figures, over 25 cm, or when budget matters more than finish.
What size should I ask for?
Whatever you like: an STL rescales easily. But always give it in millimetres or with a clear reference, because the price changes a lot with height. Also say whether it has a base and whether you want the parts assembled or loose.
Can I print a figure I downloaded from the internet?
It depends on the file's licence. Many models are for personal use and some don't allow a third party to print them for you. Check the licence before ordering.
What if I don't have the file?
It can be modelled from scratch from photos, measurements and references, or a physical part can be scanned. It's quoted separately. Describe what you want in the project and the makers who design will give you a price.
Does it come in one piece or assembled?
It depends on the file. Many figures come split into parts, and sometimes it's better to get them loose to paint them more easily and assemble them afterwards. Say so in the project.
Can I order several of the same?
Yes, and it's cheaper per unit: a batch of 10 small figures costs between €34 and €92, about €5.73 each against €8–€23 for a single one.