How much does 3D visualisation cost, and what shapes an architectural rendering price?

3D visualisation cost: why there is no single figure

It is a fair question, but any answer given without knowing the project would be misleading. The same phrase covers a single facade render and a web platform with free-roam walkthroughs of every apartment. The range is therefore wide, whichever supplier you ask.

The price is the sum of several kinds of work: data preparation, modelling, materials and lighting, interactivity development, and hosting and maintenance. If you know which of these your project genuinely needs, you can compare quotes fairly rather than judging them by the bottom line alone.

Scope: what exactly are you commissioning?

The first question is what needs to be visible. Only the exterior of the building, the communal areas, a show apartment, or every individual unit? Each additional level means more modelling, more coordination and more review.

The level of detail matters too. A simplified massing model is produced much faster than a photorealistic interior with chosen materials, furniture, light fittings and natural daylight. Higher detail raises the price, but it makes most sense where the buyer actually decides on the purchase.

• building exterior and surroundings (green areas, access routes, neighbouring buildings)
• communal areas: entrance, staircase, bicycle store, garage
• furnished show apartments
• each unit individually, with its own layout
• additional spaces: terraces, cellars, parking bays

Architectural rendering price by number of units

It is often assumed that the price rises in proportion to the number of apartments. In reality the first unit is the most expensive, because it includes building the model of the block, setting up the scene and creating the material library. Further units in a similar style and with the same materials cost less.

The number of distinct types matters more than the number of units. Ten apartments with an identical layout are easier than ten unique ones. Mirrored units and repeated floors save effort, while special attic or atrium solutions require separate work.

Consider also whether every unit needs to be shown in the same depth. A mix often works well: representative types are fully developed, while the remaining units are presented with a floor plan and selected views.

Interactivity: from still image to free-roam walkthrough

Still renders are the cheapest level. The buyer sees selected views chosen by the author. An interactive 3D floor plan adds rotation and room-by-room viewing, while a free-roam 3D walkthrough in the browser lets buyers choose their own route and viewpoints.

A free-roam walkthrough requires an optimised model that runs smoothly even on a phone, with no installation. That optimisation is a significant part of the work, yet it is invisible in the final image. To judge the quality for yourself, try the public ARHIX demo: a free-roam 3D walkthrough of a sample house that opens in your browser.

Each additional feature is usually priced as a separate item:

• still renders of selected views
• interactive 3D floor plan
• free-roam 3D walkthrough of a unit
• building model with floor and unit selection
• sales status display (available, reserved, sold)
• furnishing or materials configurator

Engagement model: one-off production or a platform

Besides production, how the result will be used also matters. A one-off set of visualisations differs from a digital sales platform that must be hosted, maintained and updated as sales progress. With a platform, costs split into initial production and ongoing items.

Integrations with other systems are a separate line: the project website, enquiry forms, the CRM. They enlarge the initial scope, but they also cut the manual re-keying of data by the sales team.

For projects aimed at several markets, factor in languages as well. A multilingual presentation, for example in Slovenian, Croatian and German, means translating the interface, adapting the copy and sometimes adding different legal notes for each market.

Input data and revisions

The quality of the source data sets the pace of the work. Final floor plans, sections, elevations and a materials schedule allow fast, accurate modelling. If the drawings are still being coordinated, the visualisation often has to follow the changes, and each one adds work.

That is why it is important to agree on the number of revision rounds. Minor changes to materials or furnishings are usually quick, but a floor plan change after modelling is complete can mean rebuilding part of the scene. It is best to state clearly before starting what is frozen.

Checklist: common mistakes when placing an order

Most misunderstandings about price stem from unclear starting points, not from the execution itself. Before sending an enquiry, check the following points.

Once you have the answers, you will receive quotes that can be compared on substance and not only on the total.

• An enquiry with no description of scope: “we need a 3D visualisation” does not say whether you want an image or a platform.
• Comparing quotes with different levels of detail and interactivity.
• Overlooking hosting, maintenance and sales status updates after delivery.
• Starting work with unfinished drawings and no agreement on revisions.
• Forgotten languages and target markets that have to be added later.
• Undefined ownership of the models and renders, and of the rights to use them in marketing.

How to get comparable quotes

Prepare a short project brief: the number of buildings and units, the number of distinct floor plans, the desired level of interactivity, the target markets and languages, and the status of the drawings. With it, every supplier can prepare an estimate on the same basis.

If you would like an estimate for your own project, ARHIX will prepare an individual quote from these details, as there is no price list. Before that, it is worth viewing the demo and judging which level of interactivity suits your buyers.