How Much Does It Cost to Get Miniatures Painted?

Written By Peter Molitoris

A Practical Guide to Miniature Painting Commission Prices

If you have a pile of unpainted miniatures sitting on your desk, shelf, or hobby table, you are definitely not alone. Most tabletop gamers know the feeling: you buy a new army, a favorite character, a box of monsters, or a full skirmish team, and suddenly the excitement turns into a long painting backlog.

That is where miniature painting commissions come in.

Hiring a miniature painter can help you get your models table-ready, display-worthy, or fully customized without spending weeks or months trying to finish everything yourself. But one of the first questions most people ask is simple:

How much does it cost to get miniatures painted?

The answer depends on the size of the model, the number of miniatures, the quality level, the amount of detail, basing, assembly, color scheme, and whether you need tabletop-ready or display-level work.

This guide will walk you through what affects miniature painting commission prices, what to expect when requesting a quote, and how to decide what level of painting is right for your army or collection.

Want a fast quote instead of guessing?
Have a unit, character, army, or 3D printed model you need painted? Send Battlefield Brushwork the model details and we’ll help you figure out the right finish level and price for your project.

Get a miniature painting quote here.

Why Miniature Painting Prices Vary So Much

Miniature painting is not priced like buying a standard product off a shelf. Every model is different.

A single fantasy hero, a squad of sci-fi infantry, a monster, a cavalry unit, a tank, and a large centerpiece model all require different amounts of time and attention.

The biggest factors that affect the cost of a miniature painting commission are:

  • Model size

  • Model count

  • Level of detail

  • Paint quality level

  • Assembly needs

  • Mold line cleanup

  • Basing style

  • Color scheme complexity

  • Whether the model is plastic, resin, metal, or 3D printed

  • Turnaround time

  • Whether you want custom effects like blood, glow, weathering, or freehand

That is why most commission painters provide custom quotes rather than one fixed price for every project.

A 10-model infantry unit might be fairly straightforward. A large centerpiece monster with wings, armor, multiple textures, glowing effects, and scenic basing is a totally different job.

Common Miniature Painting Quality Levels

When looking at miniature painting prices, it helps to understand the common quality levels.

Every studio uses slightly different terms, but most projects fall into three general categories.

Tabletop Quality

Tabletop quality is the most popular option for players who want their models painted, based, and ready for games.

This level usually focuses on:

  • Clean basecoats

  • Washes and shading

  • Basic highlights

  • Neat details

  • Cohesive army colors

  • Simple basing

  • Good overall tabletop appearance

Tabletop quality is ideal for large units, full armies, board game miniatures, D&D monsters, and models that need to look good during play without requiring display-level time.

For many wargamers, this is the best value.

You get painted models that look great from normal gaming distance without paying for every tiny detail to be pushed to a competition standard.

At Battlefield Brushwork, this is where a lot of our commission work lives because many players want their armies finished, consistent, and ready for the table.

Tabletop Plus Quality

Tabletop Plus is a step above basic tabletop painting.

This level usually includes cleaner highlights, more contrast, stronger detail work, better basing, and extra attention to the parts of the model that stand out most.

Tabletop Plus may include:

  • Smoother highlights

  • More detailed weapons and armor

  • Better skin, cloth, fur, leather, or bone work

  • Stronger color contrast

  • Cleaner basing

  • More finished character details

  • More visual pop on the tabletop

This is a great choice for characters, elite units, cavalry, monsters, army leaders, and models you want to stand out without going all the way to full display painting.

If you want your miniatures to look impressive on the table and in photos, Tabletop Plus is often the sweet spot.

Need Tabletop Plus painting for your next army or unit?
Battlefield Brushwork specializes in clean, affordable, tabletop-ready and Tabletop Plus miniature painting commissions for wargamers, collectors, and 3D printed models.

Start your commission here.

Display Quality

Display quality is the highest level and usually costs the most because it takes the most time.

This level may include:

  • Advanced blending

  • Smooth transitions

  • Detailed face and eye work

  • Object source lighting

  • Freehand designs

  • Weathering effects

  • Scenic basing

  • Extra detail refinement

  • More time spent on every surface

Display quality is best for centerpiece models, competition pieces, collector models, busts, display shelves, or a favorite character you want painted to a much higher standard.

It is usually not the most practical choice for an entire large army unless you have the budget for it.

For most players, display quality is best reserved for special models.

What Does It Cost to Paint a Single Miniature?

Single miniature pricing can vary depending on size and complexity.

A small infantry model with a simple color scheme may cost much less than a detailed hero model with multiple materials, a scenic base, and advanced effects.

In general, single-model commissions are affected by:

  • How detailed the sculpt is

  • Whether it needs assembly

  • Whether it needs priming

  • Whether it needs basing

  • How many colors are involved

  • Whether it is a standard soldier, character, monster, or vehicle

  • Whether the model needs repairs or cleanup

A basic infantry model may be quick to paint. A hero model with armor trim, weapons, skin, cloak, gems, leather straps, skulls, candles, scrolls, and scenic base elements can take far longer.

This is why sending photos or links to the exact model helps a painter give you a more accurate quote.

What Does It Cost to Paint a Unit?

Units are often priced differently than single characters because they are painted as a group.

A squad of infantry, a unit of cavalry, a team of monsters, or a group of board game miniatures can sometimes be more efficient to paint together because the same colors and techniques are repeated across the batch.

Unit pricing depends on:

  • Number of models

  • Model size

  • Repeated details

  • Army color scheme

  • Basing style

  • Whether every model is identical or highly varied

  • Whether there are banners, leaders, special weapons, or extra details

A unit with 10 nearly identical soldiers is usually easier to batch paint than 10 unique characters.

If you are trying to keep the price reasonable, a consistent army scheme and simple basing can help a lot.

Have a unit sitting unpainted?
Whether it’s infantry, cavalry, monsters, characters, or a full squad, Battlefield Brushwork can help turn your backlog into models you’re excited to put on the table.

Request a painting commission quote here.

What Does It Cost to Paint a Full Army?

Full army commissions are where pricing can vary the most.

A full army might include:

  • Infantry units

  • Elite units

  • Cavalry

  • Characters

  • Monsters

  • Vehicles

  • Artillery

  • Large centerpiece models

  • Objective markers

  • Display bases or movement trays

Full army painting usually requires planning before the work begins. A painter needs to understand the color scheme, basing theme, quality level, timeline, and whether models will be shipped all at once or in stages.

For many clients, the best approach is to break a full army into smaller waves.

For example:

Wave 1: Core infantry and basic troops
Wave 2: Characters and elite units
Wave 3: Monsters, vehicles, cavalry, or centerpiece models
Wave 4: Extra basing, touch-ups, and final additions

This makes the project easier to manage and helps spread out the cost.

At Battlefield Brushwork, we can quote small projects, individual units, or larger army commissions depending on what you need finished.

Why Basing Affects the Price

Basing can dramatically improve the look of a miniature, but it also adds time.

A simple base might include texture paste, drybrushing, and a grass tuft. A more advanced base might include cork rocks, skulls, flowers, snow, mud, ruins, water effects, resin bits, pigments, or custom scenic details.

Common basing styles include:

  • Grassland

  • Desert

  • Snow

  • Mud

  • Urban rubble

  • Ruins

  • Jungle

  • Swamp

  • Lava

  • Alien planet

  • Graveyard

  • Forest floor

Simple basing is usually more affordable. Scenic basing costs more, but it can make a finished army look much more cohesive.

If you are commissioning a full army, choosing one consistent basing style helps the whole force look unified.

Does Assembly Cost Extra?

Often, yes.

Assembly can be quick or time-consuming depending on the kit.

Some miniatures are simple push-fit models. Others have many parts, delicate resin pieces, tiny weapons, awkward gaps, mold lines, or subassemblies that need careful planning before painting.

Assembly may include:

  • Removing mold lines

  • Cleaning resin or plastic parts

  • Gluing models together

  • Filling gaps

  • Pinning fragile pieces

  • Magnetizing weapons

  • Keeping parts separate for painting

  • Repairing broken models

If you want to save money, you can assemble the models yourself before sending them to the painter. However, if the assembly is rough, it may still need cleanup before painting.

For the best result, ask the painter how they prefer to receive the models.

Are 3D Printed Miniatures Cheaper to Paint?

Not always.

3D printed miniatures can be fantastic, but they are not automatically easier or cheaper to paint.

A clean resin print with crisp details can paint beautifully. A rough print with support marks, leftover resin, brittle parts, layer lines, or uncured areas may require extra prep.

3D printed models may need:

  • Support removal cleanup

  • Sanding

  • Gap filling

  • Extra washing

  • Careful priming

  • Repair work

  • Base fitting

  • More delicate handling

The quality of the print matters a lot.

At Battlefield Brushwork, we work with both traditional miniatures and 3D printed models. If you need custom printed miniatures painted, we can help with both the printing and painting side of the project.

How to Get a More Accurate Miniature Painting Quote

If you want a fast and accurate quote, send as much useful information as possible.

Helpful details include:

  • The name of the model or kit

  • How many models you need painted

  • Photos or links to the models

  • Whether they are assembled

  • Whether they are primed

  • Your preferred color scheme

  • Your desired quality level

  • Your basing preference

  • Any deadline you have

  • Whether you need 3D printing, assembly, or painting only

You do not need to have every detail figured out before contacting a painter. But the more information you provide, the easier it is to estimate the time and cost.

A simple message like this works well:

“Hi, I have a unit of 10 miniatures I’d like painted to Tabletop Plus quality. They are assembled but not primed. I’d like a dark armor scheme with snowy bases. Can you give me a quote?”

That gives the painter a strong starting point.

How to Save Money on Miniature Painting Commissions

If you are working with a budget, there are several ways to keep the cost down while still getting great results.

The easiest ways to save money are:

  • Choose tabletop or Tabletop Plus instead of display quality

  • Use a consistent army color scheme

  • Keep basing simple

  • Send models assembled and cleaned

  • Batch units together

  • Avoid excessive custom effects on every model

  • Save display-level painting for characters and centerpiece models

You can also split a project into smaller stages.

Instead of commissioning an entire army at once, start with one unit or one character. That lets you see the painter’s style, quality, communication, and turnaround before committing to a larger project.

When Is a Miniature Painting Commission Worth It?

A painting commission is worth it if it helps you enjoy the hobby more.

For some people, painting is the best part of the hobby. For others, painting is the wall that keeps them from playing the army they actually want to use.

Hiring a painter can make sense if:

  • You do not have time to paint

  • You want a finished army faster

  • You have a large backlog

  • You want a higher-quality result

  • You dislike painting but love gaming

  • You want a gift painted for someone

  • You need a centerpiece model done well

  • You want a consistent army scheme

  • You bought 3D printed models and want them finished

There is no wrong way to enjoy tabletop gaming. If painted miniatures make the experience better for you, a commission can be a very worthwhile investment.

Recommended Hobby Supplies If You Want to Paint Some Models Yourself

Even if you hire out larger projects, it can be helpful to keep a few basic hobby supplies around for touch-ups, simple basing, or small personal projects.

A few beginner-friendly supplies worth having include:

Beginner Brush Set
Useful for touch-ups, basecoating, and simple detail work.

Wet Palette
Helpful for keeping paints workable longer and making smoother color application easier.

Hobby Clippers or Model Tool Kit
Useful for basic assembly, cleanup, and preparing plastic miniatures.

Affiliate note: Some links may be affiliate links, which means Battlefield Brushwork may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend hobby supplies that make sense for miniature painters and tabletop gamers.

Why Choose Battlefield Brushwork for Miniature Painting?

Battlefield Brushwork helps tabletop gamers, collectors, and hobbyists get their miniatures painted and ready for the table.

We work with:

  • Warhammer-style miniatures

  • Age of Sigmar armies

  • Sci-fi and fantasy models

  • D&D miniatures

  • 3D printed miniatures

  • Skirmish teams

  • Characters and heroes

  • Units and army projects

  • Monsters, vehicles, and centerpiece models

Our focus is on clean, attractive, tabletop-ready and Tabletop Plus painting that helps your models look great without turning every project into an unreachable display-level price.

Whether you need one model painted, a unit finished, a 3D printed miniature brought to life, or help getting through a backlog, we can build a quote around your project.

Get a Miniature Painting Quote

If you are wondering how much your miniatures would cost to paint, the easiest next step is to ask.

Send us the model name, quantity, photos if you have them, and the level of finish you are looking for. We can help you figure out whether tabletop, Tabletop Plus, or display-style painting makes the most sense for your project.

Ready to get your models painted? Visit the Battlefield Brushwork contact page and send us the details for your next miniature painting commission.

Peter Molitoris
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