The Short Answer
A 3D product model costs between $100 and $8,000 or more in 2026, depending mostly on how complex the product is and how accurate the model must be. Simple packaging sits at the bottom, a typical consumer product in the middle, and mechanical or jewellery-level detail at the top. Freelancers charge less than studios; studios usually include optimisation for the web and AR.
Prices by Complexity
| Product | Examples | Freelancer | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple | Bottle, jar, box, can, basic packaging | $100 to $400 | $300 to $800 |
| Medium | Headphones, shoe, chair, lamp, cosmetics set | $400 to $1,500 | $800 to $2,500 |
| Complex | Watch, appliance, bike, multi-part machinery | $1,500 to $5,000 | $2,500 to $8,000+ |
| From CAD files | Any of the above with engineering data | Often 30 to 50 percent less | Often 30 to 50 percent less |
These are market ranges, not quotes. Renders and animation are priced on top; see 3D product rendering cost for the stills.
What Drives the Price
- Reference quality. CAD files or precise measurements are fast to work from; a few phone photos mean guessing, and guessing means revisions.
- Accuracy. A model that must match the real product to the millimetre costs more than one that only needs to look right.
- Materials. Plain plastic is quick. Fabric, leather, brushed metal, glass and gemstones take real material work.
- Labels and logos. Text and artwork must be clean and legible, which often means rebuilding them as textures.
- Variants. Extra colours are cheap; extra parts and shapes are not.
- Where it will be used. A web or AR model needs a strict file-size budget; a render-only model does not.
Web Models and Render Models Are Different
A model for still renders can be as heavy as the computer allows. A model for a website or AR must load on a phone, so it has fewer polygons, smaller textures and simpler materials. The professional approach is one master model and one or more optimised versions made from it.
Asking for both up front costs less than ordering a render model now and a web version later. Our GLB optimisation guide explains what the web version needs.
What to Ask For in the Brief
- CAD files, or dimensions and photos from every side.
- The uses: website viewer, AR, renders, animation, configurator.
- The file formats: the source file, GLB for the web, USDZ for iPhone AR.
- A file-size target for the web version.
- Ownership and licence terms in writing.
Should You Use AI to Make the Model?
AI generators can turn photos into a rough 3D model in minutes, and they are improving fast. For a product you sell, they are not yet accurate enough on shape, labels and materials. We compare them honestly in AI 3D model generators versus a 3D artist.
Working With Kalex
Kalex models products in Blender from CAD files or references, and delivers a master model plus web and AR versions, for brands worldwide. See our 3D modelling service or send us your product for a fixed quote.