3D modeling: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What 3d modeling is

A 3D modeler builds digital three dimensional objects or scenes for products, architecture, games or printing, and delivers the files with textures and renders. Businesses hire 3D modelers to show a product before it exists, present a building or room or make parts that can be printed or shown in a catalog.

Signs you need it

  • You are designing a product and need to see it in three dimensions before you build a prototype
  • You need photorealistic product images without a photo shoot
  • You are presenting a building, interior or space to clients or to a planning board
  • You need a digital model of a part for printing, machining or a catalog
  • You want an animated walkthrough of a space or product for a presentation

What the pro does

  • Review the reference drawings, photos or measurements you provide, and confirm the units and scale
  • Build the model in the agreed software, with the level of detail the purpose requires
  • Apply materials, textures and lighting so the model looks as you intend
  • Render the views you need, such as product angles, interiors or close ups
  • Check the model for errors that would affect printing, machining or the render
  • Deliver the model files, the renders and a note on the format and the units used

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of objects and how complex each one is
  • The level of detail and realism required, from simple shapes to detailed surfaces
  • Whether the model must be built from drawings, from photos or from scratch
  • The number of renders, camera angles and any animation required
  • Whether the model must meet a specific format for printing, machining or a game engine
  • The number of revision rounds and how quickly the files are needed

What a written quote should spell out

  • The objects or scenes covered and the level of detail for each
  • The file formats delivered, such as native source files, exchange formats or print files
  • The renders included, with their size and resolution
  • The revision rounds included and how changes are handled
  • The usage rights for the models and renders, including the uses allowed

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can you show me models you built for a product or space like mine?
  • What file formats will I receive, and can I open them in my software?
  • Will the model work for 3D printing, and do you check it for errors?
  • How do you match the real dimensions and materials I give you?
  • How many revisions are included, and how are changes priced?
  • Who owns the model and the renders once I pay?

Red flags

  • Will not show a portfolio of models or renders in the detail you need
  • Uses models or textures that are not licensed for commercial use
  • Will not deliver the source files after payment
  • Promises that the model will be accepted for a permit or a patent without review

What you can do yourself

You can use free modeling tools to build simple shapes, or use a printer's online service that checks a file you provide. Hire a 3D modeler when the model must match a real product or space, when the renders must look professional or when the file must be built to a specific format for printing, machining or a game.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required for 3D modeling. Ask instead for a portfolio, references and a written statement of the usage rights for the models and renders; check with your state or local business licensing office if the modeler operates as a registered business.

3D modeling questions

Do I need a 3D model to get a product made?

Many manufacturers and printers ask for a model file, but the exact format and detail vary. Ask the manufacturer what file type and tolerances they need before the modeler starts.

Will the renders match how the product looks in real life?

They will match the materials and dimensions you provide. Send real photos and specifications, and check the first render against the physical item if you have one.

Can I use the model in a patent application?

The model can help document a design, but patent rules are complex. Ask a licensed patent attorney how to use the files in a filing.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer 3d modeling remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

Edit history

How guide reviews work

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See screened pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More design and marketing guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request 3d modeling