Large figures · 2026
Large 3D printed figures in parts: statues, 1:6 and 1:4 scale and life size
Can you 3D print a large figure?
Yes, in parts. A home resin printer prints parts up to about 16 to 22 cm tall, and a desktop FDM printer about 25 to 35 cm per side, so a 30 cm figure, a 1:4 statue or a life-size one is split into parts that are printed separately and joined with pins, magnets or keyed joints. As a reference, a resin piece of about 20 cm costs between €21 and €55, excluding VAT and shipping; anything bigger depends on height, the number of parts and the finish. Post your project for free on Fabrishare and makers in the network send you their offer with price and lead time within 24–48 hours.
Why is a large figure printed in parts?
Because it doesn't fit in the printer. These are the maximum print sizes of some common models, according to their manufacturers:
| Printer | Example | Build volume | Tallest single part |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact home resin | Elegoo Mars 5 Ultra | 153 × 78 × 165 mm | about 16 cm |
| Large home resin | Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra | 219 × 123 × 220 mm | about 22 cm |
| Desktop FDM | Bambu Lab P1S | 256 × 256 × 256 mm | about 25 cm |
| Large desktop FDM | Creality K2 Plus | 350 × 350 × 350 mm | about 35 cm |
| Large-format FDM | Elegoo OrangeStorm Giga | 800 × 800 × 1000 mm | up to 1 m |
On top of that, a resin printer's build plate is narrow: about 12 cm deep on the Saturn 4 Ultra. A figure with outstretched arms, a cape or a weapon won't fit even if it's under 22 cm tall, so it gets split too.
Printing in parts also gives a better result: each part is oriented so the supports land where they won't be seen, and if one fails, only that one is reprinted.
How tall is a figure at 1:6, 1:4 or life size?
The height of a 1.80 m person at each scale, and how it's usually printed:
| Scale | Height | How it's usually printed |
|---|---|---|
| 1:12 | 15 cm | Resin, in one or a few parts |
| 1:6 | 30 cm | Resin, in parts: head, torso, arms, legs and base |
| 1:4 | 45 cm | Resin in parts, FDM or both |
| 1:2 | 90 cm | FDM in parts; head and hands in resin for more detail |
| 1:1 (life size) | 1.80 m | FDM in dozens of parts, or on a large-format printer |
Always give the final height in centimetres: scale alone isn't enough, because every sculptor measures differently, and a figure with a helmet, tall hair or a base stands taller than another at the same scale.
How is a large figure split and joined?
Four things that keep the seams invisible and the figure in one piece:
Cuts along natural lines
The model is split where the figure already has a line: the neck, the waist, the edge of clothing, a piece of armour, the foot on the base. That way the join is hidden before any filler goes on.
Many sculptors sell their large figures already split into parts and pre-supported. If your file comes in one piece, the maker can split it: say so in the project.
Pins, magnets and keyed joints
Each join is aligned and reinforced with one of these three:
- Pins: metal rods or printed pegs that go into a hole in the other part.
- Magnets: for parts you want to take off and put back, such as a weapon, a cape or the head, or to take the figure apart when you move it.
- Keyed joints: the part has a shaped tab that only fits one way.
Glue, filler and sanding
The joins are glued (superglue on small parts, two-part epoxy on large or load-bearing ones), filled and sanded so the line disappears before priming.
Hollow, with drain holes
In resin, a large figure is printed hollow, with walls of about 2–3 mm and drain holes where they won't be seen: liquid resin trapped inside can crack the part over time.
In FDM it's printed with low infill: lighter and quicker.
Resin, FDM or both?
Resin
- Fine detail on faces, hands and textures
- Smooth surface, almost no layer lines
- Small parts: more cuts and more joins
- Standard resin is brittle: for large figures, a tougher one is better
FDM (filament)
- Much bigger parts and fewer cuts
- Cheaper and lighter at large sizes
- Layer lines show: sanding and filling needed
- Less detail on faces and hands
Both together
- Body, base and large parts in FDM; head, hands and details in resin
- Detail where people look, size where it matters less
- The two materials need evening out when priming and painting
Reference prices: from small to large
Prices for the whole job, excluding VAT and shipping, from the Fabrishare calculator. These are the smallest pieces on this page: a 75 mm bust and a 20 cm resin figure, roughly the size of each part of a large figure printed 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 |
We don't give a figure for anything over 30 cm: the price depends on height, the number of parts, the technology (resin, FDM or both) and the finish, which is a large share of the work on a big figure.
The best approach is to post the project with the file and the height you want, and compare several offers.
Which large figures people order
Statues and display figures
Characters from film, comics or games at 1:6 or 1:4 scale, for display, from the file you bought from their sculptor.
Figures and decor: everything you can have printedLarge busts
From 20 cm up to life size: head, torso and base printed separately.
3D printed bustsA figure of a real person
From a 3D scan or a model made from photos, at whatever height you like.
Custom figurine from photosAnime characters
Display figures of 30 cm or more, with hair, weapons and effects as separate parts.
3D printed anime figuresCosplay helmets and props
Life-size helmets, weapons and armour: printed in parts like a large figure, but made to be worn.
Cosplay helmets and masksDioramas and shop-window pieces
Scenes with several figures, or pieces for a shop window or a stand, split into modules that are assembled on site.
Scale dioramas and scenesNo file yet
A maker who designs can create the model from photos and measurements; modelling is quoted separately.
No STL file? What to do
In parts, assembled or painted?
You can order a large figure at different points in the process, from least to most work for the maker:
- Loose printed parts, supports removed, for you to assemble.
- Assembled: parts glued, with pins or magnets.
- Seams filled and sanded.
- Grey primer, ready to paint.
- Hand-painted, if the maker offers it: quoted separately.
How long does a large figure take and how is it shipped?
Lead time
In resin, machine time is set by the height of the parts: about 4 hours for a plate of 20 cm parts, according to the Fabrishare calculator, and a figure of 30 to 45 cm usually needs several plates. Then come washing, curing, assembly and finishing. Each offer states its lead time; if you have a date, put it in the project.
Packing
The safest way is to ship it disassembled: each part wrapped separately, thin bits (fingers, weapons, tips) protected, and everything in a padded box where nothing can move. Assembled, a large figure can break at its weakest join.
Any maker in the network who ships to your address can make an offer; if the one you choose is nearby, you can meet in person, which is the most relaxed option for a very large or already painted piece.
The file and its licence
Many large figures 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 figures or statues, scans of a figure 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 large figure
- 1Post your project for free with the STL files, whole or already split into parts, or with photos if there's no model yet.
- 2Give the final height in centimetres, whether you want resin, FDM or both, and the finish: loose parts, assembled, primed or painted.
- 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 large 3D printed figures
Can you 3D print a large figure?
Yes, in parts. Home resin printers print parts about 16–22 cm tall and desktop FDM printers about 25–35 cm, so a bigger figure is split into parts that are printed separately, joined with pins, magnets or keyed joints, then filled and sanded.
How much does it cost to print a large figure?
As a reference, a 20 cm resin figure costs between €21 and €55 and a 75 mm bust between €15 and €40, excluding VAT and shipping. There's no fixed figure for anything over 30 cm: it depends on height, the number of parts, the technology and the finish. Each maker gives their price after seeing the file.
How tall is a 1:6 scale figure?
About 30 cm if it depicts a 1.80 m person. At 1:4 it's about 45 cm; at 1:2, about 90 cm; and at life size, as tall as the person. Always give the final height in centimetres, because every sculptor measures differently.
Resin or FDM for a large figure?
Resin for detail: faces, hands and textures, in parts up to about 20 cm. FDM for size: bigger, cheaper and lighter parts, at the cost of sanding and filling the layers. Very large figures often mix the two: body and base in FDM, head and hands in resin.
How many parts will it be printed in?
It depends on the printer and the pose. A resin printer like the Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra fits a part up to 22 cm tall and about 12 cm deep, so a 30 cm figure usually comes in several parts, and a life-size one in FDM in dozens.
Will the joins show?
Not if they're cut along natural lines (neck, waist, edge of clothing) and then filled and sanded. Ask in the project for filled and sanded seams, or do it yourself before priming.
How is a large figure shipped?
Most safely disassembled, with each part wrapped and thin bits protected, in a padded box. If the maker you choose is nearby, you can meet in person.
Can it be painted for me?
Yes, if the maker offers it, quoted separately. If you're painting it yourself, it can be easier to order the parts unassembled and primed: they're painted separately and assembled at the end.
Can I print a figure I bought or downloaded?
It depends on its licence. Many are for personal use, and some licences don't allow someone else to print it for you. Check before ordering. Copies of commercial figures or pirated files, never.