Hours Per Model — by Type & Paint Tier (editable)
| Model Type | Speed | Tabletop | Display | Masterclass |
|---|
Defaults from published commission studio estimates. Edit to match your own painting speed.
📜 Quote Summary
Per unit:
Labour = qty × hrs_per_model × hourly_rateConsumables = qty × base_material_cost × (1 + markup/100)Add-ons (assembly, basing, magnetizing) add per-model hours.
Total = Σ(labour + consumables) across all units.
Deposit = Total × deposit% / 100. Balance = Total − Deposit.
Effective rate = Total ÷ Total hours (sanity check against your target).
Hour benchmarks sourced from published commission studio estimates (Minis For War, DakkaDakka community). Edit all defaults in the hours matrix above for your actual speed.
How to Use This Calculator
This tool is built for miniature commission painters who need to quote a full army — not just a single model. Here's the workflow:
- Set your rate — enter your target hourly rate, deposit %, and daily painting output in the Quote Settings panel above.
- Adjust the hours matrix — click "Edit Hours-Per-Model Defaults" and tune the hours for each model type (infantry, hero, monster, vehicle, terrain) and paint tier (Speed / Tabletop / Display / Masterclass) to match your actual painting speed. Defaults are based on published professional studio estimates.
- Add units — click "+ Add Unit", name each unit group (e.g. "Intercessors × 10"), pick the model type, quantity, paint tier, and optionally check assembly, basing, or magnetizing add-ons.
- Read the summary — the quote panel updates instantly, showing total hours, labour cost, consumables, total quote, deposit owed, and balance on delivery.
- Print or share — hit "Print / Save as PDF" for a clean client-ready quote sheet, or copy the CSV to paste into your booking system.
When Commission Painters Use This
The typical scenario: a client messages you with "I need my whole Warhammer 40k army painted" — and it's a 2,000-point list with a mix of 30 infantry, 3 characters, 2 tanks, and a centrepiece daemon. Each unit may warrant a different paint tier. Quoting this accurately, showing your client the itemized breakdown, and knowing your real effective hourly rate — that's what this tool handles.
It's also useful mid-project if the client adds units: just add new rows and the total recalculates.
Paint Tier Reference
- Speed / Contrast: Base colour + contrast/shade wash + drybrushed highlight. Batch-painted. Fast and affordable for large rank-and-file units.
- Tabletop Standard: Solid base coats, layered highlights, washes, simple basing. Looks great on the table at arm's length. The most common tier for full armies.
- Display Quality: Non-metallic metal (NMM), freehand, blending, sculpted bases. Each model is an individual showpiece. Reserved for characters and heroes.
- Masterclass / Competition: Every technique deployed, multiple days per model. For centrepieces, showcase pieces, or competition entries.
Add-On Charges
Assembly — cleaning mold lines, clipping from sprue, gluing, and gap-filling adds 15–45 min per infantry model and longer for larger kits. Check the box to add assembly hours per unit.
Basing (Enhanced) — going beyond simple sand/flock to custom resin pours, tufts, miniature scatter, painted stonework, or OSL effects adds per-model time.
Magnetizing — drilling and fitting magnets for weapon swaps; charge per magnet point used.
Consumables Costs
Consumables (primer, paints, basing materials, varnish) are a real cost that should be in every quote. This calculator estimates them per model type and tier, then applies your chosen markup percentage. You can override the per-model consumables figure for any unit in the row. Many commission painters charge a 10–20% markup over cost to cover wastage and replenishment.
Setting Your Hourly Rate
The effective rate sanity-check at the bottom of the quote compares your total quote ÷ total hours against your target rate. If it drops significantly below your target, your per-model prices for the mix of tiers in this army aren't covering your time. Adjust tier hours or your rates accordingly. Remember to price in self-employment tax, payment processing fees (PayPal/Stripe), and insurance if applicable.
FAQ
The standard formula is: (hours per model × quantity × hourly rate) + consumables cost. Hours vary by model type and paint tier — tabletop-standard infantry takes roughly 2–4 hours, while a display-quality hero takes 15–30 hours. Add consumables (primer, paint, basing materials) and optional add-ons like assembly or magnetizing. This calculator handles all of that across multiple unit types in one army quote.
It depends on model type and paint quality. Speed/contrast: roughly 0.5–1 hr for infantry, 1–3 hr for heroes, 2–5 hr for vehicles. Tabletop standard: 2–4 hr for infantry, 4–8 hr for heroes, 6–15 hr for vehicles. Display quality: 8–15 hr for infantry, 15–30 hr for heroes, 20–40 hr for vehicles. Masterclass pieces can run 40+ hours per model. Edit all defaults in the hours matrix to match your actual painting speed.
Most professional commission painters charge a 25–50% non-refundable deposit to cover materials and reserve time. The calculator lets you set any deposit percentage and shows the exact upfront amount. A typical approach is 30–40% deposit at booking, balance on completion and before shipping.
Model type is the primary driver of hours. Vehicles, monsters, and large centrepiece models have more surface area and complex details, so they take significantly longer than infantry even at the same paint tier. This calculator uses separate hours-per-model defaults for each type, all editable to match your pace.
Yes — assembly (cleaning mold lines, clipping from sprue, gluing, gap-filling) adds meaningful time, typically 15–45 minutes per infantry model and longer for larger kits. Many commission painters add a per-model assembly fee or roll it into adjusted hours. This calculator includes an optional assembly add-on per unit row.
Break the army into unit groups (e.g. 30 infantry at tabletop standard, 3 heroes at display, 2 vehicles at tabletop, 1 centrepiece at masterclass). Calculate hours × rate + consumables for each group, then sum them. Mixing tiers across an army is the norm — rank-and-file at speed or tabletop tier, characters at display, and a single showpiece at masterclass is a common strategy balancing cost and visual impact.
This calculator provides estimates for guidance only. Actual project time, material costs, and final pricing are the painter's professional responsibility. Results are not financial or business advice. Formula method and hour benchmarks based on published professional commission painting studio data.