How to Price 3D Printed Cosplay Props and Commissions
How to price 3D printed cosplay props: filament, print time, finishing, paint and design, with three worked examples.
In this guide
Cosplay props take long print times and hours of sanding and painting. Finishing is often the biggest cost. This guide shows how to price props from raw prints to painted pieces.
- Prop price = filament + printer time + finishing + paint + design or license + overhead, then profit and fees.
- A small painted prop costs about $41.80 to make and sells for about $61.
- Sanding and painting often take more time than printing.
- Offer raw prints as a cheaper option.
Why props need finishing time in the price
Print time runs unattended, but finishing is hands-on work.
STL files may need a commercial license.
The steps
1. Cost filament
Grams times cost per gram.
2. Add printer time
Hours times machine rate.
3. Add finishing
Sanding, filling, priming and paint.
4. Add design or license
STL commercial license.
5. Add overhead, profit and fees
Use 10% overhead, 30% profit and fees.
Worked example: three prop sizes
$20 an hour for finishing, 10% overhead, 30% profit and 10% fees.
| Small prop (badge) | Medium prop (helmet piece) | Full prop (sword) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filament | $2.00 | $12.00 | $25.00 |
| Printer time | $3.00 | $15.00 | $30.00 |
| Primer, paint and filler | $3.00 | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Labor at $20.00/hr | 1.5 hr = $30.00 | 6 hr = $120.00 | 12 hr = $240.00 |
| Overhead (10%) | $3.80 | $15.70 | $31.50 |
| Cost to make | $41.80 | $172.70 | $346.50 |
| Plus 30% profit | $54.34 | $224.51 | $450.45 |
| Cover 10% selling fees (divide by 0.90) | $60.38 | $249.46 | $500.50 |
| Suggested price | $61 | $250 | $501 |
Raw prints remove most finishing time and price much lower.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing by print time only. Finishing is hands-on work.
- No license. Check STL commercial licenses.
- Unclear finish level. Offer raw, primed and painted options.
- Fragile shipping. Pack carefully and charge shipping.
What you keep on each sales channel
The same small painted prop at $61.00 leaves different money in your pocket depending on where it sells. This uses the $41.80 cost to make from the example above, with Etsy's current transaction, processing and listing fees and Square's in-person card rate. Shipping, sales tax and ads are left out.
| Where it sells | Buyer pays | Fees | You keep | Profit over cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy (6.5% + 3% + $0.25 + $0.20 listing) | $61.00 | $6.25 | $54.76 | $12.96 |
| Your own website (about 2.9% + $0.30) | $61.00 | $2.07 | $58.93 | $17.13 |
| Craft fair, card reader (2.6% + $0.15) | $61.00 | $1.74 | $59.26 | $17.46 |
| Craft fair, cash | $61.00 | $0.00 | $61.00 | $19.20 |
On Etsy, fees take about 10% of a $61.00 sale. If a sale comes through Etsy Offsite Ads, add another 15% (12% for shops over $10,000 a year), so build that into your price if you're enrolled.
Cosplay prop checklist
- Filament.
- Printer time.
- Finishing.
- Paint.
- License.
- Overhead, profit and fees.
Quote 3D prints
Type your filament, print time and finishing into the peach cells. The calculator builds a quote.
Get the 3D Printing Quote GeneratorCalculators that help
- Post-processing: Cost finishing. Use the 3D Print Painting & Post-Processing Cost Calculator – Sanding to Clear Coat.
- STL licenses: Cost licenses. Use the STL Commercial License Cost Calculator – Patreon & Merchant Tiers.
- FDM cost: Cost FDM prints. Use the FDM 3D Printing Cost Calculator – Filament, Print Time, Labor & Profit.
- Profit margin: Check margin. Use the 3D Printing Price & Profit Margin Checker – Markup vs Margin.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a cosplay prop?
It depends on size and finish. In this guide a small painted prop prices at about $61.
Should I sell raw prints?
Yes, as a cheaper option.
Do I need a license?
Many STL files need a commercial license.
How long does finishing take?
Often longer than printing.
How do I ship props?
Pack well and charge shipping.
Should I take deposits?
Yes, for large props.
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