Weddings and celebrations · 2026
Custom 3D printed cake toppers
How much does a custom cake topper cost?
A lettering topper about 15 cm wide (names, a date, “Mr & Mrs” or an age) is printed in FDM in about 25 minutes and costs between €6 and €17, typically €10, excluding VAT and shipping. A figure of the couple made from photos costs more, because it has to be modelled and the modelling is quoted separately. Neither is edible or should touch the sponge directly. On Fabrishare, a network of makers, you post your idea for free and get quotes within 24–48 hours.
Which kind of topper should you order?
There are two families: flat lettering or silhouette toppers, printed in filament and cheap, and three-dimensional figures, printed in resin and almost always modelled first.
| Type | Technology | What you can personalise | What to send |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettering or a phrase | FDM | Names, date, “Mr & Mrs”, a short phrase, the colour | The exact text and a font or reference |
| Number or initials | FDM | An age, years married, initials | The number, colour and height |
| Silhouette | FDM, sometimes in two colours | The couple, the family, the dog, the pose | A reference photo or drawing |
| Figure of the couple or the person | Resin | Faces, clothes, hair, pose, big-head or realistic style | Front, side and back photos; the height |
| Figure from a file | Resin | Size and finish | The STL file and its licence |
Reference prices: lettering, figure and bust
Fabrishare calculator estimates for the printing, excluding VAT and shipping. Each maker sets their own price in their offer.
| Item | Technology | Guide price | Machine time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lettering topper about 15 cm wide | FDM | €6–€17 (typically €10) | about 25 minutes |
| 20 cm figure | Resin | €21–€55 | about 4 hours |
| 75 mm bust | Resin | €15–€40 | about 1.5 hours |
With a custom figure, printing is the cheap part: what costs most is modelling it from your photos, which each maker quotes according to the detail and the number of people. Hand painting is also quoted separately.
Decor and decorative figures are the most requested group: 33 of the 110 requests registered on Fabrishare between May and October 2026. One of them was exactly this: a custom big-head figure for a wedding cake topper.
Is a 3D printed topper safe on a cake?
Yes, as long as it doesn't touch the sponge or icing directly. A printed part isn't considered food-safe as it comes off the printer: in FDM the layers leave tiny grooves where residue collects, and in resin some resin may not be fully cured. The fix is simple:
How to use it
- Wrap the picks in cling film or baking paper before pushing them in.
- Or stand the topper on a cake board disc or a layer of fondant.
- Put it on just before serving and take it off before cutting.
- Resin figures always on their base, never straight onto the icing.
What not to do
- Don't eat it or lick it: it's decoration.
- Keep it away from candles and out of the dishwasher: PLA starts to warp at around 55 °C.
- Don't ask the maker to “make it food-safe”: nobody can guarantee that for a printed part.
What size should the topper be?
Width and height
As a guide, no wider than the cake: on a 20 cm cake, a 12–15 cm topper looks balanced. On a tiered cake, give the size of the top tier, which is where it goes.
Put the cake's diameter and number of tiers in the project: the maker sizes the lettering so it can be read from the table.
Picks and weight
The picks hold the topper up: 5–7 cm grip well without reaching the board. A lettering topper weighs very little, about 7 g of PLA, so it won't sink. A resin figure is heavier: better on its own base than on picks.
Colours and finish
PLA comes in dozens of colours, including gold, silver and silk-effect shine. Figures are hand painted or delivered in one colour for you to paint.
Toppers for every celebration
Weddings
Names and date, “Mr & Mrs”, the couple's silhouette or a figure of the couple made from their photos.
Custom figurine from photosBirthdays and anniversaries
A big number, a name or the years married. The simplest topper and the quickest to print.
Christenings and baby showers
A name and date with a simple motif. If you'd like a figure of the baby or the family, it's modelled from photos.
With a character
Only if you have the file and its licence lets someone else print it. Makers don't copy cartoon characters or commercial figures.
Afterwards
Ask for a stand or display base: the topper becomes a keepsake on a shelf, and a figure of the couple lasts for years.
No file
Lettering doesn't need a file: the text is enough. For a figure, the maker models it from your photos.
No STL file?
What to send so it arrives on time
- 1
The text or the photos
For lettering, the exact text, with capitals and accents, and a reference font. For a figure, front, side and back photos in good light.
- 2
The cake
The diameter of the top tier and whether it's covered in buttercream or fondant.
- 3
The colour
Gold, silver, white or the event colour; for figures, whether you want it painted.
- 4
The date
Quotes arrive within 24–48 hours. Lettering prints quickly, but allow for shipping; a modelled figure also needs rounds of review. Order several weeks ahead and give the date in the project.
How to order your topper
- 1Post your project for free with the text or photos, the cake size, the colour and the event date.
- 2Makers in the network send you their offer with price and lead time within 24–48 hours.
- 3You choose one; the maker prints it and ships it to you.
Cake topper questions
How much does a 3D printed cake topper cost?
A lettering topper about 15 cm wide costs €6–€17, typically €10, excluding VAT and shipping. A figure of the couple costs more: printing a 20 cm resin figure is €21–€55, and modelling it from photos is extra.
Is it food-safe?
Not as it comes off the printer: in FDM the layers leave grooves where residue collects, and resin may not be fully cured. Wrap the picks in cling film or stand the topper on a cake board, put it on just before serving and remove it before cutting.
What size topper should I order for my cake?
As a guide, no wider than the cake: 12–15 cm on a 20 cm cake. Picks of 5–7 cm hold it well. Give the diameter of the top tier in the project.
Can you make a figure of the couple from photos?
Yes. A maker who models sculpts it digitally from your photos, shows you the model to approve and then prints it in resin (about 4 hours of machine time for a 20 cm figure). The modelling is quoted separately and is what costs most.
How far ahead should I order?
Several weeks ahead for a figure. Quotes arrive within 24–48 hours; a lettering topper prints in about 25 minutes, plus shipping. A figure also needs modelling, review rounds and finishing.
What colours can it be made in?
PLA comes in dozens of colours, including gold, silver and silk-effect shine. A figure can be hand painted or come in a plain colour for you to paint.
Can I have a cartoon character?
Only if you have the file and its licence lets someone else print it. Makers in the network don't copy characters or commercial figures.
What should I do with the topper after the wedding?
Keep it: ask for a stand or display base. Wash it in lukewarm water, never in the dishwasher: PLA warps from around 55 °C.