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In 2025, sculpting in 3D remains a crucial part of producing high-quality assets for games, animated series, concept art and other fields of entertainment. You can develop a stylized character for an indie game or a realistic creature for a cinematic trailer: in all cases, digital sculpting will always be an important part of bringing forms and details to life.
But what should you expect when it comes to budget and time? Let’s look into 3D sculpting cost, timelines and see some important aspects that affect the total investment, in addition to choosing the studio for doing work.
In very simple terms, sculpting is exactly what it is in real life, except this time artists use software and hardware instead of your arms and clay.
3D sculpting is a type of 3D service that is used to produce 3D models by changing a mesh. The process of changing is similar to sculpting with clay: 3D sculpting artists pull, push, squeeze and smooth the digital shape to create a model that matches the chosen art style and overall reminds you of a particular object, be it a human’s face or a creature’s body. After the sculpture is ready, textures and colors are added, finishing the model and preparing it for further usage.
By implementing 3D sculpting, artists can add lots of subtle details and complex shapes to a 3D model, enhancing the overall game’s look and players’ immersion.
Perhaps one of the most common questions related to sculpting process is how much does 3D sculpting cost, in general? We got you covered! Here's a quick table for your convenience to see the differences in prices, according to a region, and an estimated time range for different types of 3D sculpt.
Pricing for 3D sculpting often depends on the artist's experience, the complexity of the asset, and where the artist is located. Here's a quick table for your convenience to see the differences in prices, according to a region.
| Region | Average Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| North America | $50 - $100+ |
| Western Europe | $45 - $100 |
| Eastern Europe | $25 - $70 |
Keep in mind that the time estimates presented down below are for sculpting only. Preparing assets for game engines or print (retopology, baking, textures, etc.) will add to both time and cost.
| Type of 3D Sculpt | Estimated Time Range |
|---|---|
| Basic Props (Small rocks, Crates, Barrels) | 2 - 6 hours |
| Stylized Assets (Weapons, Furniture, Accessories) | 5 - 15 hours |
| Realistic Assets (Machinery, Complex Props) | 10 - 25 hours |
| Creature or Character Base Sculpt | 20 - 40 hours |
| High-Detail Character (With Accessories & Polish) | 40 - 80+ hours |
Need a custom quote? Email us at sales@rocketbrush.com with your project details and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
RocketBrush Studio provides 3D sculpting services on an hourly basis. Depending on the complexity of the sculpture work required, we charge from 30 to 60 dollars per hour.
During our work, we try to optimize our production pipeline, adapt to your budget and your projects’ unique features. We focus on maintaining partnerships and producing great work that meets the ever-growing industry standards.
Our artists can easily adapt to the type of style your project requires: from stylized and cartoonish to realistic. We also do not use any hidden costs or additional payments for each artist involved in working on a project, our hourly price includes all work on a project. We also manage the number of people on the team working on sculpting work, considering your project’s requirements.
We would love to discuss it in detail with you. You can reach us at hello@rocketbrush.com and talk about goals, obstacles and potential collaboration.
Several factors play into 3D sculpting cost — here’s a list of things that usually cause the numbers to climb up. Let’s discuss some of them.
The more anatomical accuracy, subtle details, additional accessories or ornate a character has, the more hours and effort will be required by the artist. While it usually applies to a realistic style, stylized, low-poly characters can also be quite time-consuming, even though they often require less detail.
Is the 3D sculpture you need going to be made for presentation? Or will it be animated and rigged later, to be used in more complex, interactive aspects? Preparing the sculpt for production adds extra steps and costs: topology cleanup, UV mapping and baking are difficult procedures and will take time and effort, which translates to expenses on your part.
Be sure to plan things thoroughly: if you need a 3D sculpting work very quickly, you’ll likely pay more. Artists will have to work under stress and may have to adapt their schedules to deliver faster, which usually involves so-called “rush fees”.
Senior 3D sculptors, especially those with previous experience in big games and animation, will come with a higher price. But in this case, you’re also paying for clean, high-quality topology, optimized geometry and industry-level QA. If you’re working on a high-budget, AAA game, you may need to consider a talented pool of artists as well.
Here are some basic tips that allow you to double-check the process and protect your budget from unexpected twists and turns.
These general tips can assist in bringing your expenses down.
Freelancers can be a great choice for single, particularly focused, assets, while sculpting 3D studios are better for ongoing production with multiple assets, consistent quality, and quick problem-solving. They usually provide overall art direction and internal quality checks - which is great for you and your budget.
Focus the budget on the most important characters or objects in the sculpture. Background props and additional elements can be simplified or sourced from libraries to save time and money.
If you plan to create a variety of similar characters or props, consider reusing base meshes or slightly reworking them to be used again. For example, creatures with the same physiology or body type can be adjusted and resculpted to save on costs, much cheaper than producing a new sculpture from scratch.
Before commissioning a 3D sculpting, provide idea pads, mood boards, character descriptions and turnaround or photos and other references which may clearly show your vision to an artist. The clearer your input, the fewer revisions will be there, which is good for the budget.
Spend time finding different options to find top art outsourcing studios is something for convenience: for game developers too it may lead to better prices, flexibility and quick turnaround – since video game art outsourcing studios already understand your methods, style and have collaborated with you before.
Starting collaboration with a reliable partner is immensely crucial, so many outsourcing studios and freelancers are present on the market – how to choose the right one? Let’s see how you can make sure you’re in good hands:
1. Check their portfolio: Seeing what a 3D sculpting studio is capable of via their selected works is often the best way to find out what to expect from the studio. Obviously, a portfolio allows you to consider their previous deliverables visually and compare them with the idea you have. Do they specialize in stylized or realistic work? Do they have the experience of sculpting objects and characters similar to what you have in your head?
You can look at our portfolio and see the great scope of styles and aesthetics we’ve been working with.
2. Look for testimonials: Company’s previous clients can provide some pretty useful info on communication, consistency and overall experience. Positive feedback from known studios or projects is a good trust signal. In some cases, it allows you to not only confirm the studio’s capabilities, but also to see additionally whether a company can create remarkable work for your project. If you have the confirmation of a successful partnership over a project with the same style, genre and goals, you’re in luck!
Check out RocketBrush Studio’s testimonials – here’s what A Thinking Ape Entertainment's Aeron Kawakami says about our collaboration:
Over the past 3 years, RocketBrush has become a go-to resource for all things creative. They are extremely talented, driven, and provide competitive pricing, but what really separates them from other agencies is their dedication and flexibility. Rocketbrush started working on the product side for one of our games but has since branched out into marketing and creating assets for our newest 3D title. Working with a studio like them has enabled us to increase production without a drop-off in quality, which at the end of the day is very difficult to find. Highly recommended!
3. Learn about their workflow: A right studio will guide you through their 3D sculpting pipeline, starting from concept sketches and blocking to ending up with polishing and final delivery. Also, they provide regular updates and are open to feedback rounds.
At RocketBrush Studio, we provide a dedicated project manager to keep you in the loop regarding the recent updates. We consider your feedback, hold regular meetings with quality assurance and have big internal review before showing final work to you.
This has to be revisions! Especially when the art brief is too general and non-specific from the beginning. By nature, sculpting requires additional iterations and occasional tweaks here and there, but each feedback response can significantly extend the timeline and even costs. If you're wondering if 3D sculpting is hard, this is one of the parts that adds complexity — managing expectations and feedback cycles. The best way to keep costs down? Provide specific references, feedback milestones and prioritize clarity from day one!
You can do this by multiplying the average time required for your model type (usually, 40+ hours for a realistic character) by the hourly rate. For example, a realistic character taking 50 hours at $40/hr would cost you around $2,000. Also, keep in mind that the final quote depends on overall complexity, chosen style and deadlines you’re about to set. If you’re just starting and curious about how long it takes to learn 3D sculpting, projects like these give good insight into time investment and skill level.
Urgent deadlines often require priority treatment or extended working hours, which increases the hourly rate. Rush jobs typically cost more due to resource reallocation and tighter timelines. You should always discuss the potential urgency with studios you’re going to collaborate with – they may have a different approach to it. This is especially true when learning how to sculpt 3D models yourself versus hiring a professional.
Rates in various regions differ mostly because of local labor costs, living expenses and the overall demand for 3D services in each region. For example, a U.S.-based artist may charge more due to higher living costs, while a highly skilled artist in Eastern Europe may offer similar quality at a lower rate.
As you can see, when it comes to 3D sculpting cost and time, the final result relies on two key things: the level of detail and the effort the artists put into every stage of the production. And if you’re currently in the process of preparation for a project that requires sculpted assets, partnering with an outsourcing studio that can excel in delivering fast and superb results is essential to reach your ambitions and goals.
At RocketBrush Studio, our sculpting 3D artists can bring any vision to life. From detailed detailed character bust, dynamic props or rich environmental elements that should soak your players in a meticulously crafted atmosphere of your project – we can do it all. Check out our portfolio, see what our clients are saying and feel free to get in touch.
We would love to see what we can do working together!
