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How much does a custom sculpture cost? Size, material and casting
Short answer: a commissioned sculpture is priced by size, material (clay, resin, wood, stone or cast metal), the artist's time for design and sculpting, and, for cast pieces, the casting and finishing stages (mould, casting, chasing, patina). For bronze, ThePricer puts an original commissioned life-size sculpture at USD 20,000–60,000 or more, and a small decorative cast from about USD 1,000 (ThePricer, updated 4 October 2026). Small figures in resin or printed and painted are a different scale entirely. Get quotes for your size and material.
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What are the stages of a sculpture commission?
- Design: sketches or a small model (maquette) for your approval.
- Sculpting: in clay, wax, foam or digitally. Digital sculpts can be 3D printed at any size.
- Moulding and casting (for bronze, resin or plaster copies): a mould is taken and the piece cast.
- Finishing: chasing (cleaning up cast metal), sanding, painting or patina.
- Base, mounting and installation: plinths, fixings and, for outdoor work, foundations.
Each stage is skilled labour, and for metal the foundry work is a large share of the cost.
What do published bronze figures say?
| Item | Published figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small decorative bronze cast | from about USD 1,000 | ThePricer (2026) |
| Original commissioned life-size bronze | USD 20,000–60,000+ | ThePricer (2026) |
| Large public monuments, complex multi-figure | can exceed USD 100,000–250,000+ | ThePricer (2026) |
ThePricer describes its figures as broad planning benchmarks, not fixed prices. Most private commissions are much smaller and in less costly materials.
What makes a sculpture cost more?
- Size: material, sculpting time and casting cost grow quickly with scale.
- Material: cast bronze and carved stone sit at the top; resin, plaster, wood and painted 3D prints cost less.
- Likeness: portraits of a real person or pet need more reference and revisions.
- Detail and pose: dynamic poses, fine textures and multiple figures take longer.
- Editions: a mould lets you cast several copies, so the per-piece cost falls.
- Outdoor use: weatherproof materials, bases and installation.
How can a small sculpture be made affordably?
For small figures, busts and keepsakes, many artists sculpt digitally and then 3D print in resin, finishing and painting by hand. This avoids foundry costs and allows small editions. The Mold & Resin Volume Calculator helps estimate material if you're casting copies.
What should I send a sculptor?
- Subject and references: many angles for a likeness
- Size and material, or how and where it will be displayed
- Style: realistic, stylised, abstract; point to examples of the artist's work
- Number of copies
- Budget range and deadline, especially for a gift or an event
On The Spool List art and sculpting market you post once for free, artists quote, and you choose. You pay the quote with no buyer fee, and the payment is protected until you confirm delivery.
Sources
- ThePricer: how much does a bronze statue cost? (updated 4 October 2026; checked 27 October 2026)
FAQ
How much does a custom bronze sculpture cost? ThePricer puts an original commissioned life-size bronze at USD 20,000 to 60,000 or more, and small decorative casts from about USD 1,000. Smaller pieces in other materials cost far less.
Why is bronze so expensive? Casting involves mould making, wax work, investment, pouring, chasing and patina, all skilled foundry stages on top of the artist's sculpting.
Can I commission a small figure or bust affordably? Often, through digital sculpting and 3D printing in resin, finished and painted by hand.
Can I order several copies? Yes. With a mould or digital file, editions can be cast or printed, which lowers the cost per piece.
Post it free and let makers bid. Your payment is protected until you confirm delivery.