A single 32mm tabletop miniature uses only about a gram of plastic, so the material itself costs a few cents. What you're really paying for is machine time, setup labor, and the shop's minimum order charge — almost every print shop has one, and a lone mini almost always lands on it. That's why the realistic answer is the shop minimum (typically $5–$15) rather than the raw cost, and why printing a squad at once is dramatically cheaper per figure.
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Price breakdown
| Material | $0.05 |
| Machine time | $0.16 |
| Labor (setup) | $5.00 |
| Markup | $1.56 |
| Estimated price | $10.00 |
What drives the cost
Minimum order charge dominates
The raw cost of one mini is under a dollar. Shops apply a minimum charge (commonly $10) because setup, slicing, and handling take the same effort whether the job is one gram or a hundred.
Batching slashes per-mini cost
Ten minis in one job share a single setup fee and one machine warm-up. Use the quantity control below to see the per-order total flatten out.
Resin vs FDM
Detailed minis are often resin-printed, which costs more per ml and adds washing/curing labor. The FDM numbers here are the budget end; resin typically runs 1.5–3× higher.
Get an exact price, not a typical one
Have the actual STL file? Our free calculator measures it in your browser — no upload, no signup — and prices it with the same formula shops use.
Get an exact quote Run a shop? Start freeFrequently asked questions
Why do shops charge $10 for a miniature that uses 5 cents of plastic?
Because the job still requires file checks, slicing, machine setup, and removal — labor that costs the same regardless of part size. The minimum order charge covers that fixed effort.
Is it cheaper to print miniatures in batches?
Much cheaper per figure. A batch shares one setup fee, so ten minis might cost only slightly more than three. Try quantity in the estimator above.
How long does a miniature take to print?
A 32mm mini at 0.12mm layers takes roughly 1–3 hours on an FDM printer depending on supports and detail settings.