We built a 3D Art Budget Estimator, and want to hear your feedback

Serhii_HiMASTERS

“How much will this 3D art cost?”

That question always coming up from clients, producers, and even internally on our own projects.

So we built an internal calculator to estimate production time and cost for different asset types and quality levels. We originally made it for ourselves only, but figured that other indie teams or just solo devs might find it useful too.
https://himasters.art/3d-production-budget-builder

How it works:

• At the top, there’s a “Learn More” button showing visual quality examples (so you’re not guessing what AAA looks like).

• Column 1: Select visual quality — from placeholder to AAA cinematic.

• Column 2: Pick level size — small / medium / large.

• Column 3: Choose number of levels or maps.

Tip: estimate different levels separately if needed.

• Columns 4–5: Asset quantities — characters, NPCs, props, vehicles, weapons.

You can mix anything: e.g., 1 level + 2 characters.

• Hourly Rate: Use our sample or enter your own.

• Click “Estimate project cost” to get a breakdown of time and cost.

• Download a PDF estimate — with visual style, hours per asset, and total cost.

⸻

Would love to hear your feedback:

• Is this useful at all?

• Anything we should improve?

P.S. We’re not web developers, just 3D artists. So don’t judge the UI too harshly 

pior

Well, you forgot the link

zetheros

where's the button for AAAAA

sacboi

https://himasters.art/3d-production-budget-builder/

You've got a few responses on reddit how to improve this app and as a vehicle artist for mobile kinda ball park calculated hours per asset plus duration, though curious if currency is USD or other? 

Serhii_HiMASTERS

pior said:

Well, you forgot the link

Thanks, edited OP

zetheros said:

where's the button for AAAAA

The glorious AAAAA button? Vanished in 0.02b -- erased like it never existed, once the council of game devs declared it obsolete. But hey, if the industry ever bounces back, we might resurrect it from the dead!

sacboi said:

https://himasters.art/3d-production-budget-builder/

You've got a few responses on reddit how to improve this app and as a vehicle artist for mobile kinda ball park calculated hours per asset plus duration, though curious if currency is USD or other? 

Yep, collecting all the possible feedback. The currency is USD. If you select the custom rate option or hover over the tooltip, you’ll see some USD reference ranges for pricing:

Though, as someone on Reddit pointed out, those prices mostly reflect the Eastern European gamedev scene -- for Americans, they’ll probably look heavily underpriced.
Also, really appreciate you having my back and dropping the link to the calc, somehow missed it in the process!