How Much Does Warhammer Commission Painting Cost?

It's the question every Warhammer player asks before taking the plunge: how much is this actually going to cost me?

The honest answer is that commission painting prices vary, sometimes quite a lot, depending on a handful of key factors. There's no universal price list because no two projects are the same. A squad of Necron Warriors is a very different job to a fully converted Daemon Primarch, and pricing that pretends otherwise isn't doing you any favours.

At Blazing Brush Studio, we believe in being upfront about how our quotes are put together. So here's a straightforward breakdown of everything that influences the cost of a commission paint job.

1. Painting Tier

This is the biggest single factor. At Blazing Brush Studio we offer three standards of painting, each representing a different level of time, detail, and craftsmanship:

Tabletop is our most affordable tier. Models are painted cleanly and consistently - base colours, shading, and a neat finish that looks great on the battlefield. Ideal for large units and hordes where you need a lot of models done to a solid standard without breaking the bank.

Display is our most popular tier. This is where we spend more time on shading, highlighting, and bringing out every detail on the model. The result is an army that genuinely turns heads across the table. Most of the work in our gallery is painted to Display standard.

Signature is our highest level, reserved for centrepiece models, characters, and showpieces where you want the very best. This involves advanced techniques, maximum detail, and the kind of finish that makes your models really stand out.

Naturally, the higher the tier, the more time each model takes - and time is the primary driver of commission painting costs.

2. Model Size and Complexity

A basic infantry model and a Imperial Knight are not the same amount of work. Larger models have more surface area, more intricate details, and often more components to paint separately before assembly. Similarly, a highly detailed character model with elaborate armour, weapons, and a scenic base will take considerably longer than a rank-and-file trooper.

When we assess a project, the size and complexity of each model plays a significant role in how the quote comes together.

3. Quantity

Painting at scale has some efficiency advantages. Once a colour palette is established for your army, batch painting multiple models of the same type is faster per model than painting them one by one. This is especially relevant at Tabletop tier, where large horde armies can represent excellent value.

That said, quantity alone doesn't automatically reduce cost - a large order of complex models at Signature standard is still a significant undertaking. It depends on the combination of size, tier, and model type.

4. Colour Scheme

Here's something many people don't consider: the colour scheme you choose genuinely affects how long a model takes to paint, and therefore what it costs.

Take two Space Marines painted side by side at Display standard. One is painted in a gunmetal scheme - think Iron Warriors (ignoring the hazard stripes for now!). The other is painted in a bright, rich yellow - Imperial Fists for example. Despite being the same model and the same tier, in this case, the yellow marine would take longer.

When you get a quote from us, the colour scheme is always part of the conversation - because it genuinely matters.

5. Basing

A model's base can be as simple or as elaborate as you like, from a basic painted texture to a fully sculpted scenic diorama. Simple basing is usually included as standard, but more involved bases (custom resin inserts, elaborate terrain effects for example) take additional time and materials, and can be factored into your quote accordingly.

6. Special Requests

Sometimes requests go beyond the usual paint schemes, maybe a custom banner, printed parts, conversions and kitbashes! Whatever you have in mind just ask us - we love a challenge, and we're happy to discuss what's possible, and these details can be considered when putting together your quote.

So What Should I Budget?

Rather than give you a number that doesn't apply to your specific project, we'd rather give you an accurate quote based on exactly what you need.

The best thing you can do is get in touch with us directly. Tell us what you're looking to get painted, which tier interests you, your colour scheme, and any specifics you have in mind. We'll come back to you with a clear, no-obligation quote.

There are no hidden surprises — just honest pricing for the work involved.

Get a free quote from Blazing Brush Studio →

Blazing Brush Studio is a UK-based Warhammer miniature commission painting studio, painting 40k, Age of Sigmar, Horus Heresy, and Lord of the Rings armies for clients worldwide.