3D Modelling for Products: Pricing & Process in 2026
What 3D Product Modelling Actually Costs in 2026
3D modelling pricing is opaque because every project is different. Here's a clear per-model breakdown based on real Nordic studio rates.
Pricing Tiers
Simple geometric product (€150–€400 per model)
- Furniture with flat surfaces, simple tools, basic packaging
- 1–2 materials, 1 lighting setup
- 2–4 render angles
- Examples: a side table, a water bottle, a cardboard box
Standard consumer product (€400–€900 per model)
- Multiple materials and finishes
- Fabric, leather, brushed metal
- 3–6 render angles or a 360° turntable
- Examples: a chair, a small kitchen appliance, a backpack
Complex / mechanical product (€900–€2,000 per model)
- Many parts, transparent or refractive materials, mechanical detail
- Exploded views, cutaways, animation
- Examples: a power tool, an electronic device, a watch
Architectural visualization (€500–€3,500 per scene)
- Interior or exterior space rendering
- Lighting and atmosphere
- Examples: a restaurant interior, a building exterior
What Drives the Price
- Geometry complexity — number of unique parts, curves vs flat surfaces
- Material accuracy — matte plastic is cheap; brushed anodized aluminium with anisotropy is not
- Reference quality — good technical drawings cut modelling time in half
- Render quantity and resolution — 1 hero image is cheaper than 12 turntable angles
- Animation — adds 40–80% on top of static rendering
- Revisions — 2 rounds usually included, additional rounds €60–€100/hour
The Process Step by Step
Week 1: Brief and reference gathering. You provide product dimensions, photos, CAD files if available, material samples, brand guidelines.
Week 2: Greybox modelling. A grey, untextured version of the model for shape approval. Cheap to change at this stage. Expensive to change later.
Week 3: Texturing and materials. Photo-real surfaces applied. First test renders sent for color and finish approval.
Week 4: Lighting, camera, final renders. Studio-style lighting setup, final renders in agreed resolution and angles.
Optional Week 5: Animation, AR, configurator integration.
When 3D Beats Studio Photography
- Product variants. 10 fabric colors × 4 shapes = 40 photos to shoot. In 3D it's a material swap, not 40 setups.
- Pre-launch marketing. You can market a product before a physical prototype exists.
- Lifestyle scenes. Putting your sofa in 12 different room styles costs nothing extra in 3D.
- Consistent lighting. Every render has the same studio lighting — your catalog looks unified across years.
- Updates. Changed the leg color? One click, not another photo shoot.
When Photography Still Wins
- Single hero shot of a single product where you want "realness"
- Food, fabric, complex organic materials where 3D requires extreme effort
- Founders / team / behind-the-scenes content
What to Ask Before Hiring
- Can I see the greybox before you texture?
- How many revision rounds are included?
- Do I own the source files (.blend, .3ds, .obj)?
- Can the model be used in a web configurator later?
- What's the polygon count target?
The polygon count question matters: a model optimized for static rendering may have 2 million polygons. A model for a web configurator needs to be under 100,000. If you might want a configurator later, ask for both versions upfront — much cheaper than re-doing the work.
The service description, delivery times and fixed pricing are on the [3D modelling](/en/3d-modeling) page.
Frequently asked questions
What do you need from us before modelling starts?
Ideally CAD files, in which case the geometry exists already and the work shifts to materials and lighting. Without CAD, dimensions plus good photographs from several angles and a note on materials are enough. Missing dimensions are the most common reason a project drags.
Why do prices vary so widely?
The spread comes from geometric complexity, the number of materials, and whether the model is only for imagery or also has to run in real time in a browser. A clean, simple product sits near the bottom of the range; a multi-material assembly with moving parts sits near the top.
Can one model be reused for several purposes?
Yes, and that is the main advantage over photography. A single model produces e-commerce imagery, brochures, animation and, if needed, a configurator. Agree at the point of order that you receive the model files, though — otherwise reuse depends on your supplier.
Published · Bluefour-tiimi
Bluefour – Helsinki digital agency | hello@bluefour.fi | +358 45 850 4236