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 We originally made it for ourselves only, but figured that other indie teams or just solo devs might find it useful too.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!

MagicMeister

This is a great idea, as I often struggle with pricing. I think my most recent commission would probably fit fairly within the kind of budget that this quick app outlines, however I would like an option to exclude a "level".

You see, I'm a character artist and I would not feel comfortable charging someone for an entire environment, although I could make them one. 

For example, what kind of calculation would you break down for a AAA character with 2 props and one weapon without a level? I doubt it comes out to $20,512 like the budget quota I received when inputting those exact prompts as well as a "small" level. 

Either way props to you, with a little more tweaking for options this could be a real eye opener for a lot of people who are trying to figure out the worth of their skills. 

Serhii_HiMASTERS

MagicMeister said:

This is a great idea, as I often struggle with pricing. I think my most recent commission would probably fit fairly within the kind of budget that this quick app outlines, however I would like an option to exclude a "level".

You see, I'm a character artist and I would not feel comfortable charging someone for an entire environment, although I could make them one. 

For example, what kind of calculation would you break down for a AAA character with 2 props and one weapon without a level? I doubt it comes out to $20,512 like the budget quota I received when inputting those exact prompts as well as a "small" level. 

Either way props to you, with a little more tweaking for options this could be a real eye opener for a lot of people who are trying to figure out the worth of their skills. 

Thanks for your kind words, really appreciate hearing it from a fellow artist 
And yeah, I guess it is not so obvious for now and we should improve UI anytime soon, but you can just leave Levels/Maps Quantity at 0, and it would not affect total cost/time estimates.
And you can always check what calc estimated in details, hitting that "download pdf" button. For an example, AAA character with 2 props, 1 weapon and custom rate of 15$/h would cost next: