Busts · 2026
3D printed busts: display pieces, painting busts and portraits
How much does it cost to 3D print a bust?
A small collector's bust of about 75 mm costs between €15 and €40 printed in resin, and a resin piece of about 20 cm, the size of a large bust, between €21 and €55, excluding VAT and shipping. Height moves the price most, because in resin the print time is set by how tall the part is, followed by the finish. Post your file for free on Fabrishare and makers in the network send you their offer with price and lead time within 24–48 hours.
Reference prices for a 3D printed bust
Prices for the whole job, excluding VAT and shipping, from the Fabrishare calculator. The 75 mm bust is a small collector's bust; the 20 cm piece is a reference for a large bust in resin. Each maker sets their final price after seeing the file.
| Part | Technology | Range | Typical |
|---|---|---|---|
| 75 mm bust | Resin | €15 – €40 | €25 |
| 20 cm figure | Resin | €21 – €55 | €34 |
What pushes the price up: height (in resin, print time depends on how tall the part is, not how much it weighs), the number of parts and the finish. Sanding off support marks, priming or mounting the bust on a plinth is quoted separately.
We don't give a figure for busts over 25 cm: they depend too much on size, material and finish. For those, post the project and compare several offers.
What size of bust should you order?
The hours are the Fabrishare calculator's estimate for a resin part of that height; each maker gives you their own lead time, including washing, curing and finishing.
| Height | What for | Technology | How it's printed | Machine time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 8 cm | Small collector's bust, for painting | Resin | Solid, in one or two parts | about 1.5 h |
| 10 to 15 cm | Mid-size collector's bust or a gift | Resin | Hollow, with drain holes; 2 to 4 parts | about 2–3 h |
| About 20 cm | Large display bust | Resin | Hollow and in parts: head, torso and plinth | about 4 h |
| Over 25 cm (1:4, 1:2, life size) | Display and decoration | FDM, or resin in parts | Many parts, glued, filled and sanded | dozens of hours |
Scale (1:12, 1:10, 1:9…) doesn't tell you the height: every sculptor measures differently, and a bust with a helmet, tall hair or a deep chest stands taller than another at the same scale. Always give the final height in millimetres, and say whether that includes the plinth.
Which busts people order
Decorative pieces are what people request most on Fabrishare: 33 of the 110 registered requests between May and October 2026 were decoration and decorative figures. Busts are one corner of that world, with their own rules:
Collector's busts for painting
Small busts of 6 to 12 cm, made to be painted by brush or airbrush. Bust painting is a hobby in its own right: the face is seen up close, so they're ordered in resin with the finest detail.
Large display busts
From 20 cm upwards, up to 1:4, 1:2 or life size. Printed in parts, hollow in resin or in FDM, then glued and filled so the seams disappear.
Large figures printed in partsA bust of a real person
From a 3D scan or a model made from photos. If you don't have the model yet, start there: modelling is quoted separately.
Custom figurine from photosCharacter busts
From anime, film or games, using the file you bought from its sculptor, with a licence that lets someone else print it for you.
3D printed anime figuresPlinths and plaques
The plinth can be printed with the bust or separately, in resin, FDM or on a wooden base, with a name plaque if you like.
How is a bust printed well?
Four things separate a well-printed bust from one that arrives with marks on the face or cracks after a few weeks:
Hollow, with drain holes
A solid resin bust uses a lot of material and is heavy. So from about 10 cm upwards it's printed hollow, with walls of around 2–3 mm and drain holes underneath or at the back.
The holes let the liquid resin inside drain out: if it stays trapped, it can crack the part over time. They go where they can't be seen and are sealed afterwards.
Split into parts
Head, torso and plinth are printed separately when the bust is large or has overhangs, such as a helmet or a raised collar. That way it fits in the printer, each part can be oriented well and the join hides along a natural line: the neck, the edge of the clothing, the foot of the bust.
Supports away from the face
Supports leave small marks when they come off. A good maker orients the bust so they land on the back or inside, never on the face or hair. If the sculptor sells the file pre-supported, even better: that part is already solved.
Standard or tough resin
Standard resin is fine for a small bust. For large hollow busts, or ones with thin parts sticking out, a tougher (ABS-like) resin is better: it copes with a knock.
Do you want it ready to paint?
Busts are usually ordered unpainted, because whoever orders one tends to want to paint it. Ask for the finish you need in the project, from least to most:
- Print only, with supports still attached.
- Supports removed, washed and cured.
- Support marks sanded.
- Grey primer: it shows up flaws before painting and gives the paint something to grip.
- Mounted on a plinth, with a metal pin between bust and base so it doesn't come loose.
- Hand-painted, if the maker offers it: quoted separately.
The file and its licence
Many busts are sold by their sculptor as an STL file, often under a personal-use licence. Before you order, check whether the licence lets someone else print it for you: some do, others require the maker to hold a commercial licence.
What doesn't get printed: copies of commercial busts, scans of a bust you bought ready-made or pirated files. When you post the project you confirm you have the right to order the print, and the maker can turn it down.
How to order your bust
- 1Post your project for free with the STL file, or with photos if there's no model yet.
- 2Give the final height in millimetres, whether you want it in one piece or in parts, and the finish: unpainted, primed or mounted on a plinth.
- 3Makers in the network send you their offer with price and lead time within 24–48 hours. You compare, choose, and the maker prints it and sends it to you.
Frequently asked questions about 3D printed busts
How much does it cost to 3D print a bust?
A 75 mm resin bust costs between €15 and €40, and a 20 cm resin piece, like a large bust, between €21 and €55, excluding VAT and shipping. The price goes up with height, the number of parts and the finish. Each maker gives their price after seeing the file.
Resin or FDM for a bust?
Resin up to about 20–25 cm: it gives the fine detail a face needs and a smooth surface. For large display busts (1:2 or life size), FDM is worth it: cheaper and lighter, at the cost of sanding and filling the layers.
How long does a bust take to print?
In resin, print time is set by height: about 1.5 hours of machine time for a 75 mm bust and about 4 for a 20 cm one, according to the Fabrishare calculator. Then come washing, curing and finishing. Offers arrive within 24–48 hours and each states its lead time.
Why is a bust printed hollow?
Because a solid one uses a lot of resin, is heavy and takes longer to cure. Hollow, with walls of about 2–3 mm, it needs drain holes: if liquid resin stays inside, it can crack the part over time.
What size should I order?
Give it in millimetres. Scale (1:10, 1:9…) isn't enough, because every sculptor measures differently. A collector's bust for painting is usually 6 to 12 cm tall; a display bust, 20 cm and up.
Can I get a bust of a real person?
Yes, from a 3D scan or a model made from front, side and back photos. Modelling is quoted separately from printing. If the bust is of someone else, it's best to have their permission.
Can it be painted for me?
Yes, if the maker offers it, quoted separately. If you're painting it yourself, ask for it sanded and in grey primer: that's where flaws show best and paint grips best.
Can I print a bust I bought or downloaded?
It depends on its licence. Many busts are for personal use, and some licences don't allow someone else to print it for you. Check the licence before ordering. Copies of commercial busts or pirated files, never.
Can I order several identical busts?
Yes. In resin several small busts fit on the same build plate, and since print time is set by height, each one works out cheaper. If they're for resale, the file's licence has to be commercial.