“When will it get here?” is the first question after “how much?”, and for a custom miniature the honest answer has a couple of moving parts worth understanding. A custom figure is not sitting on a shelf ready to box – it is made for you, which means the clock works differently from ordering a stock item. The good news is that the timeline is predictable once you know its shape, and there is a rush option if you are up against a game night or a gift date. Here is exactly how long a custom painted mini takes, stage by stage.
The one thing that shapes the timeline
The single most important fact about custom turnaround is this: you approve a 3D preview before we print, and nothing is charged until you say go. That approval step is the pivot the whole timeline turns on. Before you approve, we are preparing your figure and showing it to you; the production clock effectively starts after you say yes. That is a feature, not a delay – it means you never wait on a print you have not signed off, and a figure you are not happy with does not get made. But it does mean your own response time is part of the total: the faster you review and approve the preview, the sooner production begins.
The timeline, stage by stage
Here is the full journey from order to doorstep, with the honest timing for each stage:
| Stage | What happens | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Submit | You describe or upload your character and place the order | Minutes, on your side |
| 2. Preview & approval | We prepare a 3D preview; you review and approve it – nothing charged until you say go | Partly your response time |
| 3. Production | Printing and finishing after you approve | Typically a few days |
| 4. Shipping | Canadian shipping to your address | Typically 3-7 business days once dispatched |
So the realistic mental model is: a short back-and-forth to approve the preview, then typically a few days of production, plus Canadian shipping on top. The two parts you can most influence are your own approval speed and whether you choose the rush option below.
What “a few days of production” covers
The production window is where the figure is actually made – printed in full colour and, on the hand-finished tier, cleaned up and finished by an artist. That is why it is measured in days rather than hours: a real object is being produced and checked, not pulled from stock. It is worth being clear about what this stage is not. It is not the same as the standard dispatch time on a ready-made catalogue item, because a custom figure has to be made first. Keeping those two separate in your head avoids the common mix-up of expecting a made-to-order figure to ship as fast as something already sitting on a shelf.
The rush option
If you are on a deadline, there is a rush option that turns the production step around in 24 to 48 hours for a 50 percent surcharge. That compresses the middle of the timeline – the making – not the shipping, which still travels at normal Canadian transit speed afterward. Rush is the right call when the date is fixed and close: a birthday, a campaign finale, a convention. It is worth doing the math on the whole journey, though – rush speeds production but your approval step and the shipping leg still take their normal time, so for a truly tight deadline, order early and approve the preview quickly rather than relying on rush alone.
How to actually hit a deadline
If the mini has to arrive by a specific date, work backwards and give each stage its room:
- Count back from the date. Allow the Canadian shipping window (typically 3 to 7 business days once dispatched) first.
- Add the production window. Typically a few days after you approve – or 24 to 48 hours if you take the rush option.
- Leave room for your own approval. The preview needs your yes before production starts, so plan to review it promptly.
- Order with margin. The single best way to hit a date is to start early, not to lean on rush at the last minute.
Follow that order and the timeline stops being a guess. The most common reason a custom mini arrives late is not slow production – it is a late order or a slow preview approval eating the buffer.
Does the finish tier change the time?
The available finishes are the full-colour tier and the hand-finished tier, and both go through the same make-then-approve flow. The hand-finished tier includes an artist finishing the piece, which is part of that production window rather than a separate wait you schedule around. The safest way to plan is to use the same “a few days of production plus Canadian shipping” frame for either, and take the rush option if the date is tight. A fully hand-painted collector tier is on the way but not yet available, so it does not factor into current turnaround.
Ready to start the clock?
The timeline only starts once you have placed the order and approved your preview, so the sooner you begin, the more room you have. You can see the sizes, finishes, and how it all fits together on the tabletop gaming hub, and start your figure – describe it, pick your finish, and get your preview – on the custom D&D miniature service. If you have a date in mind, order with the shipping and production windows above in hand.
FAQ
How long does a custom mini take?
After you approve your 3D preview, it is typically a few days of production, plus Canadian shipping on top – which is usually 3 to 7 business days once dispatched. Your own approval speed is part of the total, since production only starts once you say go.
Why do I have to approve a preview first?
Because nothing is charged until you say go, and a figure you are not happy with does not get printed. You approve a 3D preview before we print, which protects you – but it also means the production clock starts after your approval, so reviewing it promptly keeps things moving.
Is there a rush option?
Yes. A rush option turns the production step around in 24 to 48 hours for a 50 percent surcharge. It speeds the making, not the shipping, which still travels at normal Canadian transit speed afterward.
Is the custom turnaround the same as regular shipping?
No. A custom figure has to be made first, so its production window is separate from the standard dispatch time on a ready-made catalogue item. Plan for production plus shipping, not just shipping.
How do I make sure it arrives by a specific date?
Count back from the date: allow the Canadian shipping window first, add the production window (a few days, or 24 to 48 hours with rush), and leave room to approve your preview promptly. The best way to hit a date is to order early rather than rely on rush at the last minute.
Does the hand-finished tier take longer?
Both the full-colour and hand-finished tiers go through the same make-then-approve flow, with the artist finishing included in the production window. Plan either as a few days of production plus Canadian shipping, and use rush if the date is tight.
