A custom D&D miniature in Canada typically costs C$15–C$30 unpainted at 28–32 mm, C$35–C$70 for a 75 mm resin display piece, and C$80–C$200+ once professionally painted. Party sets of four to six characters usually land between C$70 and C$150. Ordering domestically from a Quebec print farm means no customs and no surprise fees.
If you have ever filled an overseas cart, watched the total look reasonable, then gotten hit with a courier “handling” charge and tax at the door, you already know the real cost of a mini is not just the print. At 3DCentral, we run a 200+ printer farm in Quebec, quote in Canadian dollars, and ship domestically, so the number you see is close to the number you pay. This guide breaks down the honest price drivers for 2026.
What actually drives the price of a custom miniature?
Five variables move the number more than anything else. Understanding them lets you spend where it matters for your table and save everywhere else. Here is roughly how much each factor swings the final price, based on our own production experience and published service-bureau norms.
Paint is the single biggest lever. A bare grey print and a display-grade painted piece can be the same model, yet differ by 5–10x in price because painting is skilled hand labour. Everything else, size, material, and quantity, matters but moves the needle less.
How much does size and scale (28mm vs 32mm vs 75mm) change the cost?
Tabletop play almost always uses 28 mm or 32 mm “heroic” scale, the standard for D&D 5e and Pathfinder. A 75 mm model is a display or “bust-adjacent” scale that uses far more material and print time, so it costs more even unpainted. Material cost itself is small, a 28 mm resin mini uses roughly C$0.40–C$0.80 of resin and a PLA print even less, per 3DSourced, but a 75 mm piece can use 8–15x that volume, plus much longer machine time.
Should I pick resin or FDM for a D&D mini?
For character minis, resin (SLA/MSLA) is the standard because it captures crisp faces, fingers, and texture that tabletop players notice. FDM/filament is excellent value for larger terrain, bases, and big monsters where fine detail matters less. Maker Hacks reaches the same conclusion: resin for detail, FDM for scale and budget terrain.
What are the honest 2026 CAD price bands?
The table below shows typical Canadian ranges for a custom miniature, combining published service-bureau pricing (converted to CAD) with our own first-hand farm experience. Treat these as planning bands, not quotes, your exact figure depends on pose complexity, supports, and paint tier.
| Option | Scale | Material | Finish | Typical CAD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single hero (budget) | 28–32 mm | FDM / PLA | Raw / primed | C$12–C$20 |
| Single hero (standard) | 28–32 mm | Resin | Primed | C$18–C$32 |
| Single hero (tabletop painted) | 28–32 mm | Resin | Tabletop paint | C$45–C$90 |
| Display piece | 75 mm | Resin | Display paint | C$120–C$250+ |
| Party set (4–6 minis) | 28–32 mm | Resin | Primed | C$70–C$150 |
For reference, an officially licensed single D&D mini runs about US$10–US$15 unpainted at retail, per 3D Printerly, while custom full-colour resin and modeling work is quoted at US$30–US$150 by service providers. A custom piece costs more than a mass-produced blister because it is your character, modeled to your concept, not a catalogue figure.
Why is painting such a big chunk of the price?
Commission painting is priced by time and skill, with base rates around US$30/hour and tiered quality levels. A “tabletop” tier (basecoat, wash, highlight, finished base) can be roughly C$25–C$60 per 28 mm model, while a “display” tier with freehand, weathering, and showcase blending can exceed C$200, consistent with the £40–£180 range published by K.C. Holt Miniature Painting and other studios. That is why a primed mini and a display mini look like wildly different prices, they are mostly different amounts of human hours.
Does ordering from Canada really save money vs overseas?
This is the part most price comparisons quietly skip. Under CUSMA, goods shipped from outside Canada by courier are tax-free only up to C$40, then GST/HST applies from C$40.01, and full duties plus tax apply over C$150, per the CBSA. A C$120 painted overseas mini can arrive with an extra C$15–C$25 in tax and a courier brokerage fee on top. Buying domestically removes that entirely.
Beyond the duty math, domestic means days, not weeks, of shipping, and a support team that answers in real Quebec-French and English. For a campaign that starts next month, that lead time is part of the true cost.
How does 3DCentral’s AI-assisted process work?
You bring a concept, a description, reference art, or a rough sketch, and our dual AI engine (Tripo + Rodin) generates a 3D draft. The key honest detail: this is AI-assisted, human and artist-finished work from your concept, not a “100% AI” black box. Our team cleans geometry, fixes supports, and preps the model, and you approve a preview before anything hits the print bed. No surprise blob, no wasted resin.
So what should you budget?
For most tables in 2026: plan around C$20–C$30 for a single primed resin hero, C$70–C$150 for a primed party, and add a paint tier only on the characters that deserve the spotlight. You will keep an heirloom-quality collectible, a display piece and keepsake of your character, without the overseas customs lottery. When you are ready to turn your character concept into a real, preview-approved miniature printed in Quebec, start your build on our custom D&D miniature page and get a CAD quote with no customs surprises.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a custom D&D miniature cost in Canada in 2026?
Expect roughly C$15–C$30 for an unpainted 28–32mm hero, C$35–C$70 for a 75mm resin display blank, and C$80–C$200+ once professionally painted. Party sets of four to six minis usually run C$70–C$150. Ordering domestically from a Quebec farm avoids customs and brokerage fees.
Is resin or FDM better for tabletop D&D miniatures?
Resin (SLA/MSLA) is the standard for character minis because it captures fine faces, fingers, and texture. FDM/filament is better value for terrain, bases, and large monsters where fine detail matters less. Many players mix both: resin heroes, FDM terrain and swarms.
Why does painting add so much to the price?
Painting is skilled hand labour priced by time, with base rates around US$30/hour. A tabletop tier adds roughly C$25–C$60 per 28mm model, while a display tier with freehand and weathering can exceed C$200. A bare print and a painted display piece can be the same model at very different prices.
Will I pay customs ordering a miniature from outside Canada?
Often yes. Under CUSMA, courier shipments are tax-free only up to C$40, GST/HST applies above C$40.01, and full duties plus tax apply over C$150 (CBSA). You may also pay a courier brokerage fee. Buying domestically from 3DCentral in Quebec removes all of that.
Is the AI-generated miniature fully made by AI?
No. Our process is AI-assisted but human and artist-finished from your concept. The dual engine (Tripo + Rodin) generates a draft, our team cleans geometry and preps supports, and you approve a preview before we print. It is your custom keepsake, not a 100% AI black box.
How long does a custom miniature take to arrive?
Domestic orders typically ship in days rather than the weeks common with overseas suppliers, with a standard turnaround of about 3–7 business days for printing before shipping, depending on paint tier and queue. Because we print in Quebec, there is no customs hold to add unpredictable delay.
Does the 3DCentral Commercial License cover my custom mini?
No. The commercial license applies only to original 3DCentral catalogue designs. A custom or AI-assisted piece made from your concept is yours to print with us, and for community-artist models you commission, commercial reprint rights belong to that artist, so contact them directly.
