How to commission a cosplay prop: brief, files, size and event rules

Short answer: to commission a cosplay prop, send the maker reference images from every side, the final size (or your height so it can be scaled), how it will be used (photoshoot, convention, stage), your event's prop rules, any 3D file you have the right to use, the finish you want, and your deadline. Agree the build method and finish in writing, and ask for a progress photo at the primer stage.

Post your prop brief — free

What should a prop brief include?

1. References: front, back and both sides, plus close-ups. Game models and official art are best. Mark where references disagree.
2. Size: the overall length or height you want, or your height and how the prop relates to the character's body (for example, "blade tip at shoulder height").
3. Use: handled all day at a convention, posed for photos, or used on stage. This decides how strong and how light it needs to be.
4. Event rules: copy your convention's prop policy into the brief.
5. Files: any 3D model or pattern you have, and where it came from.
6. Finish: raw print, primed, or fully painted and weathered. Point to a photo of the look.
7. Extras: lights, sound, magnets, take-apart sections for travel, a display stand.
8. Deadline and delivery country: large props may need freight or need to come apart to ship.

How do convention prop rules affect the build?

Conventions set their own rules for props and replica weapons, and many check props at the entrance. Rules commonly cover size, weight, materials, sharp points and realistic appearance, and they differ from event to event. Find your event's current policy, then send it to the maker at the start. It's much cheaper to design a prop to fit the rules than to modify it afterwards.

The Spool List is for costume and display props only. Makers on the platform don't make real weapons or working parts for them.

Which build method should I ask for?

• 3D printing for detailed, hard-edged or symmetrical props and parts.
• EVA foam for large, light props you'll carry for hours.
• Resin casting when you need several identical copies.
• Mixed builds: a foam core with printed details, or a printed prop with a rod through it for strength.

EVA foam vs 3D-printed armour explains the trade-offs. If you're unsure, describe the use and let the maker suggest a method.

How long does a prop commission take?

Each maker quotes their own timeline. It depends on their queue, the size, whether a model has to be made first, and above all the finishing, since sanding and painting take time. Ask for a schedule with milestones: model approved, printed or cut, primed, painted, shipped.

What should I check at each milestone?

• Model or pattern: proportions and size before anything is made.
• Primer stage: surface quality. Seams and layer lines are easiest to fix now.
• Paint: colours and weathering against your reference.
• Before shipping: how it comes apart, packing, and any care notes (heat, storage).

What does it cost?

It depends on size, method, finish and extras. What cosplay props and armour cost breaks down how makers build the quote.

On The Spool List cosplay market you post the brief once for free, makers quote, and you choose. You pay the maker's quote with no buyer fee, and the payment is protected until you confirm delivery. If you want a full costume too, see how to commission a cosplay costume.

Get quotes for your prop

FAQ

What size should my prop be? Give the maker your height and how the prop sits against the character in the reference, or a target length. The maker scales it from there.

Can a maker build a prop without a 3D file? Yes. Many makers model or pattern from reference images, which is a separate part of the quote.

Can a large prop be shipped? Often it's designed to come apart, which helps with shipping and travel. Mention it in the brief.

Will my prop pass a convention check? That depends on your event's rules. Share the current prop policy with the maker so the design fits it.