Painting · 2026
3D printed miniatures and figures, painted: miniature painting service
Can I get my miniature or figure already painted?
Yes. You ask for printing and painting in the same project, and the maker who paints includes it in their offer. As a guide, painting a 28 mm miniature costs €5–€20 at tabletop standard and €30–€120 or more at display level, based on prices published by painting studios and painters on platforms such as Fiverr or Etsy (October 2026). That's painting only, without printing or shipping, and each painter sets their own price. Printing is separate: a 28 mm resin miniature costs between €8 and €23. Post your project for free on Fabrishare and get quotes within 24–48 hours.
How much does it cost to paint a miniature or figure?
Prices published by painting studios and painters on platforms such as Fiverr or Etsy (October 2026). Painting only, without printing or shipping; each painter sets their own price.
| Piece | Level | Painting price |
|---|---|---|
| 28–32 mm miniature | Tabletop | €5–€20 per figure |
| 28–32 mm miniature | Tabletop+ | €15–€40 |
| 28–32 mm miniature | Display | €30–€120 or more |
| 28–32 mm character or hero | Tabletop / display | €10–€30 / from €80 |
| Monster or large miniature | Tabletop / display | €30–€90 / €120–€300 or more |
| Bust of about 75 mm | — | from about €100 |
| 15–25 cm figure | Basic / advanced | €90–€150 / €250–€400 |
| Army or batch | — | from about €300 per project |
Every painter names their levels differently, so compare what each level includes, not the label. Large batches usually get a volume discount.
Busts and large figures vary the most: size, number of parts and how much detail you want all count. That's where it pays to get several quotes and compare.
Printing comes on top
Printing prices, unpainted, excluding VAT and shipping, from the Fabrishare calculator. If you ask for the piece painted, the maker adds the painting to their offer.
| 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 |
Painting levels: tabletop, tabletop+ and display
This is how the trade sorts it. What matters is what each level includes:
Tabletop standard (battle ready)
For gaming. Clean base colours, a wash for the shadows and some drybrushing or edge highlights. At arm's length the figure looks painted and the army looks consistent. It's the cheapest and the quickest.
Tabletop+
For gaming with a model that stands out. Brushed highlights and shading, eyes and small details, and a textured base. The middle ground between gaming and display.
Display (showcase)
For looking at up close. Smooth blending, advanced techniques such as non-metallic metal (NMM) or object source lighting (OSL), freehand designs and a base worked up like a small scene. Each figure takes hours and the price goes up a lot.
What people order painted
Wargaming miniatures
Squads and characters, nearly always at tabletop standard and in batches so the whole army matches.
Miniature printing serviceRPG miniatures
Each player's character or the campaign's final boss, often at a higher level than the rest.
28 mm RPG miniaturesTerrain
Ruins, buildings and scatter: painted quickly with primer, wash and drybrush.
Wargame terrainBusts
They're seen up close, so they're nearly always ordered at display level, with the face and skin worked in detail.
3D printed bustsCollectible and anime figures
15–25 cm figures for the shelf, painted in clean flat colours or with a more realistic finish.
3D printed anime figuresYour custom figurine
The figure made from your photos, painted in the real colours of the clothes and hair: a gift ready to hand over.
Custom figurines from your photosLarge figures
Statues printed in parts: each part is painted before assembly.
Large figures printed in partsDioramas
The whole scene, with its terrain, figures and water, snow or mud effects.
Scale dioramas
What makes painting cost more or less?
Painting is mostly one person's time, so the price goes up with anything that makes the job longer:
- Size: a monster or a bust has far more surface than a 28 mm miniature.
- Level: going from tabletop to display can multiply the price by five or more.
- Number of figures: in batches of the same model, each one costs less.
- Assembly: many painters charge separately for gluing, cleaning mould lines and filling gaps.
- The base: plain, textured or turned into a small scene.
- Extras: magnets for swapping weapons, freehand, banners or transfers.
What to include when you order it painted
The clearer the project, the closer the offers will be to each other and to what you have in mind:
- Reference images: the character, a painted figure you like or a colour palette.
- The colour scheme, if you know it, or free rein for the painter.
- For wargames, your army list and your faction's scheme or your own homebrew one.
- The level you want: tabletop, tabletop+ or display.
- Whether you want it assembled, and what base: plain, textured or decorated.
- Whether you want varnish: it protects the paint when the figure is handled in games.
How long does painting take?
Typical lead times published by painters, painting only. Add printing and shipping; each offer gives its total lead time.
| Job | Typical painting time |
|---|---|
| A few miniatures at tabletop standard | 2–3 weeks |
| Tabletop+ | 5–7 weeks |
| Display, busts or armies | 1 to 3 months |
Many painters have a waiting list and some ask for part of the price up front to book your slot. If you need it for a date, such as a tournament or a birthday, say so in the project.
Does the same maker print and paint?
One maker for both
Some makers in the network print and also hand-paint. It's the easiest way: one offer, one parcel and nobody in between if something doesn't fit.
One prints, another paints
You can also have one maker print and another paint, if they're better at the style you're after. It takes a little longer and adds a shipment, but you choose each one for what they do best.
How to order it on Fabrishare
Post the project with the file or with photos and, under finish, tick painting (and varnish, if you want it). Explain the level and the colour scheme in the description. Makers who paint send you their offer with the price for printing and painting and their lead time.
Before you choose a painter, look at their work
A painter's level shows in their photos, not in the word "display". Ask for photos of figures like yours that they've painted and, for a large batch, have them paint one first so you can see the result before they carry on.
How to order your figure printed and painted
- 1Post your project for free with the STL file or, if you don't have one, with photos and reference images.
- 2Under finish, tick painting and state the level (tabletop, tabletop+ or display), the colour scheme and whether you want it assembled and varnished.
- 3Makers in the network send you their offer with price and lead time within 24–48 hours. Compare, look at their work and choose.
Miniature and figure painting: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to paint a miniature?
Based on prices published by painting studios and painters on platforms such as Fiverr or Etsy (October 2026), a 28–32 mm miniature costs €5–€20 at tabletop standard, €15–€40 at tabletop+ and €30–€120 or more at display level. That's painting only: printing is separate, between €8 and €23 in resin.
And a bust or a large figure?
A bust of about 75 mm, from about €100 for the painting; a 15–25 cm figure, €90–€150 with a basic finish and €250–€400 with an advanced one. Printing on top: a 75 mm bust between €15 and €40, and a 20 cm resin figure between €21 and €55.
How long does it take?
Painting alone takes about 2–3 weeks for a few miniatures at tabletop standard, 5–7 weeks at tabletop+ and 1 to 3 months for display pieces, busts or armies. Add printing and shipping; each offer gives the total lead time.
Can I order just the painting of a piece I already have?
You can post the project explaining that you already have the printed piece or the miniature. If a maker who paints takes it on, they'll say so in their offer and explain how to send it to them.
Is it hand-painted or airbrushed?
Nearly always by hand, with a brush. Many painters use an airbrush for base coats, large blends or vehicles. If you have a preference, say so in the project.
Can I ask for a test model before the whole batch?
Yes, and it's the sensible thing to do for an army or a series: the maker paints one figure, you see it in photos and, if you like it, they carry on with the rest. Ask for it in the project.
Is it varnished?
Many painters seal the figure with a matt or satin varnish, which protects the paint from handling during games. If you want it, tick it under finish in the project.
Which level should I choose?
For gaming, tabletop standard: the figure looks good at arm's length and the army stays affordable. For a special character, tabletop+. For a bust, a collectible or a gift that will be looked at up close, display.