Cost to 3D Print Warhammer Miniatures (2026)

A standard 28mm Warhammer miniature costs £0.15-£0.50 in resin (2-5g material, 1-3 hours), or £0.10-£0.30 in PLA (3-8g, 2-4 hours). Larger models (50mm+) cost £0.50-£2.50. Material is the main cost (£0.09-£0.23 per mini), electricity adds £0.01-£0.05. Use our 3D printing cost calculator for batch pricing.

Warhammer Miniature Cost Breakdown by Size

Size	Material	Weight	Print Time	Material Cost	Total Cost
28mm Standard	Resin	2-5g	1-3 hours	£0.09-£0.23	£0.15-£0.50
28mm Standard	PLA	3-8g	2-4 hours	£0.04-£0.10	£0.10-£0.30
50mm Large	Resin	8-15g	3-6 hours	£0.36-£0.68	£0.50-£1.20
75mm+ Character	Resin	15-30g	5-8 hours	£0.68-£1.35	£0.80-£2.50

*Costs assume UK electricity rates (£0.28/kWh), standard material prices, and batch printing. Add 20-30% for post-processing labor if selling.

3 Real-World Cost Examples

Example 1: Batch of 10 Standard Infantry (Resin)

Quantity: 10 × 28mm miniatures
Total weight: 35g resin (3.5g each)
Print time: 4 hours (batch printing)
Material cost: £1.58 (resin at £0.045/g)
Electricity: £0.20 (SLA printer, 50W)
Total cost: £1.78 (£0.18 per mini)
If selling: £0.50-£0.75 per mini (with 200% markup)

Batch printing reduces per-unit cost significantly. Post-processing (support removal, washing, curing) adds 10-15 minutes per mini.

Example 2: Large Character Model (Resin)

Model: 75mm character miniature
Weight: 22g resin
Print time: 6 hours
Material cost: £0.99 (resin at £0.045/g)
Electricity: £0.30 (SLA printer)
Total cost: £1.29
If selling: £3-£5 (with 250% markup)

Larger models require more material and time but offer better detail. Post-processing takes 20-30 minutes.

Example 3: PLA Infantry Squad (Budget Option)

Quantity: 10 × 28mm miniatures
Total weight: 55g PLA (5.5g each)
Print time: 30 hours (batch printing, slower FDM)
Material cost: £0.70 (PLA at £0.0128/g)
Electricity: £3.00 (FDM printer, 100W)
Total cost: £3.70 (£0.37 per mini)
If selling: £0.75-£1.00 per mini (lower quality finish)

PLA is cheaper but shows more layer lines. Requires more sanding and post-processing to achieve smooth finish.

Material Cost Breakdown

Material is typically 70-85% of total miniature cost. Standard 28mm minis use 2-5g of resin or 3-8g of PLA.

• Resin (SLA): £0.040-£0.050 per gram = £0.09-£0.23 per standard mini. Best detail, smooth surfaces, minimal layer lines. Requires post-processing equipment.
• PLA (FDM): £0.012-£0.013 per gram = £0.04-£0.10 per standard mini. Cheaper but shows layer lines, requires more sanding and finishing work.
• Batch printing: Printing multiple minis simultaneously reduces material waste (supports, rafts) and improves cost efficiency by 15-25%.

Use our cost per gram calculator to compare material prices across different brands and bulk purchases.

Electricity Cost

Miniature prints run for 1-8 hours depending on size. Electricity adds £0.01-£0.30 per mini.

SLA printers: 40-60W average = £0.01-£0.05 per mini at UK rates (£0.28/kWh)
FDM printers: 80-120W average = £0.02-£0.10 per mini
Batch printing: Electricity cost is shared across multiple minis, reducing per-unit cost

Calculate exact electricity costs with our electricity cost calculator.

Labor & Overhead Costs

If you're selling miniatures, factor in labor. Post-processing adds 10-30 minutes per mini.

• Support removal: 5-10 minutes (resin) or 3-5 minutes (PLA)
• Washing & curing: 5-10 minutes (resin only, mostly automated)
• Sanding & finishing: 5-15 minutes (smoothing layer lines, cleaning up details)

At £15/hour labor rate, post-processing adds £0.05-£0.15 per standard mini. Overhead (printer depreciation, workspace, software) adds another 10-15% to material + electricity costs.

Learn more about 3D printing business costs and how to price 3D prints.

Profit Margin if Selling

For miniatures sold on Etsy or commissions, typical pricing uses 200-350% markup on total costs.

Example: £0.18 material + electricity cost
+ £0.10 labor (10 minutes × £15/hr)
= £0.28 total cost
× 250% markup
= £0.70 sale price

Hobby pricing: 150-200% markup (covers costs + small profit)
Business pricing: 250-350% markup (covers overhead, growth, risk)
Premium/custom: 350-500% markup (unique designs, high finish quality, custom poses)

Use our profit calculator to test different margin scenarios and see how pricing affects profitability.

Best Material for 3D Printing Warhammer Miniatures

Resin (SLA) - Recommended

Best detail and finish (£0.15-£2.50 per mini). Smooth surfaces, fine details, minimal layer lines. Requires post-processing equipment (wash station, curing station).

Best for: Tabletop gaming, display pieces, detailed models

PLA (FDM) - Budget Option

Cheaper option (£0.10-£0.30 per mini). Shows layer lines, requires more sanding and finishing. Good for terrain and larger models where detail is less critical.

Best for: Terrain, large models, budget projects

Compare material costs with our material comparison or use the cost calculator to see exact prices for batch printing.

Recommended Printers for Miniatures

Resin (SLA) printers are ideal for miniatures due to fine detail and smooth finishes.

Elegoo Mars / Saturn Series

Excellent value for miniatures. Mars 3 (143×89×175mm) for standard minis, Saturn (196×122×210mm) for larger models and batch printing.

Anycubic Photon Series

Reliable resin printers with good build volumes. Photon Mono for standard minis, Photon M3 for larger builds. Good community support.

Phrozen Sonic Mini / Mighty

Fast printing speeds, excellent detail. Mighty offers large build volume for batch printing multiple minis simultaneously.

Calculate running costs for specific printers with our break-even calculator.

Calculate Your Exact Miniature Cost

Enter your miniature's weight, print time, material choice, and batch quantity to get accurate per-unit and total pricing.

Use Free Cost Calculator →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to 3D print a Warhammer miniature?

A standard 28mm Warhammer miniature costs £0.15-£0.50 in resin (2-5g material, 1-3 hours), or £0.10-£0.30 in PLA (3-8g, 2-4 hours). Larger models (50mm+) cost £0.50-£2.50. Material is £0.09-£0.23 per mini, electricity adds £0.01-£0.05, and labor adds £0.05-£0.15 if selling.

What material is best for 3D printing Warhammer miniatures?

Resin (SLA) is best for miniatures (£0.15-£2.50 per mini) - provides smooth surfaces, fine details, and minimal layer lines. PLA (£0.10-£0.30) is cheaper but shows more layer lines and requires more post-processing. Resin requires post-processing equipment (wash, cure).

How long does it take to 3D print Warhammer miniatures?

A standard 28mm miniature takes 1-3 hours in resin (SLA) or 2-4 hours in PLA (FDM). Larger models (50mm+) take 3-8 hours. Batch printing multiple minis simultaneously reduces per-unit time significantly.