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Price guide · Bespoke physical models

How much does an architectural model cost? Get a tailored quote

A white massing or competition model starts from €450, and a detailed presentation model typically costs €1,500–€6,000, excl. VAT. Below, we break down architectural model cost by type and scale, explain what drives the price and set out lead times. Send us your drawings and we'll reply within 1–2 working days.

Get a quoteSee projects
  • Massing and competition models from €450
  • Presentation models: €1,500–€6,000
  • 3D printed parts from €150
  • Prices in euros, excl. VAT
Wooden architectural massing model of campus buildings with miniature trees and lawns

01Why we publish prices

Architectural model cost, without the guesswork

Many model making studios only talk numbers once they have seen your drawings. We would rather you knew the ballpark before you send a single file.

So how much does an architectural model cost in practice? It depends on what the model has to do. A white massing study for a design review costs from a few hundred euros; a lit, landscaped model for a marketing suite can run into five figures. Everything in between is priced on scale, detail, finishes and deadline.

We are model makers with our own workshop in Madrid, building physical models for architecture practices, property developers, contractors, museums and exhibitors. If you are weighing up model maker prices in London and across Europe, you can compare like for like: our ranges are in euros, excl. VAT, and every quote spells out what it covers, from materials and finishes to crating and delivery.

  • Indicative ranges for every model type
  • A tailored quote for every project
  • Packing and delivery itemised in every quote

02Price guide

Architectural model prices by type and scale

Indicative ranges in euros, excluding VAT. Your quote is based on your drawings, the scale and your deadline.

  • Massing or competition model

    from €450

    White model at 1:500–1:200 for design reviews or competition entries; typically €450–€1,500. More on our architectural models page.
    • Scale 1:500–1:200
    • Matt white finish
    • Clean volumes, no window frames or textures
    • Lead time from 3–5 working days

  • Architectural presentation model

    Most common

    €1,500–€6,000

    A building at 1:200–1:100 with medium-to-high detail, made for architecture practices presenting to clients, investors and planning committees.
    • Scale 1:200–1:100
    • Façades, window frames and materials
    • Landscaping and scale figures
    • Optional LED lighting
    • Lead time of 2–4 weeks

  • Property development model

    €5,000–€25,000

    A model of the whole scheme for the marketing suite, with landscaping and lighting, built to help sell off-plan. See real estate scale models.
    • Landscaping, trees and figures
    • LED lighting
    • Optional acrylic case
    • Lead time of 4–10 weeks

  • Interactive model

    from €12,000

    Lights up individual units so your sales team can show availability and aspect from a tablet or touchscreen. More on interactive models.
    • Lighting by zone or by unit
    • Tablet or touchscreen control
    • Integration with audiovisual content

  • Topographic or landscape model

    €600–€4,000

    Terrain or landscape in stepped contours or CNC-milled relief, for regional plans, development sites and visitor centres. See topographic models.
    • From 1:5000 (territory) to 1:100 (landscape detail)
    • Stepped contours or milled relief
    • MDF, birch plywood, cork or lime wood

  • Industrial, museum, exhibition and large-format models

    Quoted per project

    Typically €3,000–€30,000. This band covers industrial models of process plants and machinery, permanent museum displays and product replicas for exhibition stands.
    • Products and replicas from 1:10 to full size or larger
    • Tactile models for accessible displays
    • Purpose-built wooden crate for transport
    • Lead time of 4–10 weeks

  • 3D printed parts and study models

    from €150

    Single parts, working models or complex geometry printed from your own files. More on 3D printed architectural models.
    • FDM (PLA/PETG) or resin (SLA)
    • Printed from STL, OBJ, STEP, Revit, SketchUp or Rhino files

All prices are indicative and exclude VAT. The final figure depends on scale, detail, finishes, deadline and destination; packing, delivery and installation are priced into each quote.

03Cost drivers

What drives the cost of architectural models

Every quote is built from the same seven variables. Here is how each one moves the figure.

Scale and size
A larger scale means a bigger base, more parts and more assembly hours. The same plot at 1:100 covers four times the area it does at 1:200, so choosing the scale is the simplest way to keep architectural scale model cost in check.
Level of detail
A white massing model is built from simple volumes. A presentation model adds window frames, balustrades, façade textures and street furniture, and every element adds hours.
Materials and finishes
Foam board and MDF are quicker to work than acrylic, brass or limewood, and every painted, lacquered or landscaped surface adds finishing time.
Lighting and interactivity
LED lighting by zone or by unit, plus tablet or touchscreen control, means electronics, wiring and testing. That's why interactive models start from €12,000.
Deadline
Standard lead times let us schedule the workshop with some slack. Rush jobs mean reshuffling that schedule, so they are assessed on request and can affect the price.
How complete your drawings are
With full drawings and fixed dimensions, preparing the cutting and printing files is straightforward. If the design is still moving, we have to interpret, check and sometimes model parts from scratch.
Packing, delivery and installation
Delivering and installing a model in Madrid costs less than crating a large piece for the UK or installing it on site in another city.

04Lead times

Lead times and turnaround

Counted from order confirmation with complete information. Allow extra time for crating and transport outside Spain.

Indicative lead times by model type
Model typeIndicative lead time
Quote requestReply within 1–2 working days
Massing or competitionFrom 3–5 working days
Presentation2–4 weeks
Large format4–10 weeks (property, industrial or museum)
Rush jobsOn request

Common scales

  • 1:5000–1:1000: territory and topography
  • 1:500: masterplans and competitions
  • 1:200: whole building in context
  • 1:100: building with façade detail
  • 1:50–1:20: homes, interiors and details
  • 1:10–1:1 or larger: products and replicas

Delivery

  • Madrid and surrounding area: delivery and installation
  • Rest of Spain: shipped in bespoke packaging
  • Large-format models: wooden crate
  • UK, rest of Europe and worldwide: on request
  • On-site installation in other cities: on request

05How we quote

Architectural model pricing: how we build your quote

  1. 01

    We read the brief

    What the model needs to show, who it is for, the scale or footprint you have in mind and your deadline.

  2. 02

    We break the model down

    We split it into buildings, terrain, context and base, and decide what is laser-cut, CNC-milled or 3D printed. That gives us the materials and the workshop hours.

  3. 03

    We add extras and logistics

    Lighting, an acrylic case or a base with a nameplate if you need them, plus packing, delivery and installation at your address.

  4. 04

    You get a written quote

    Price, delivery date, materials and finishes, in writing. Need to hit a figure? We suggest options such as a smaller scale, less detail or 3D printed parts.

06Get a quote

Request your architectural model quote

Send whatever you have, from full drawings to sketches and photos. The more we know, the more accurate the quote.

  1. 1We read your request and check what information is missing.
  2. 2Within 1–2 working days, we email you with questions or a first figure.
  3. 3You reply with your drawings, and we confirm price, lead time and materials.
  4. 4Once you accept, we book your slot in the workshop and start building.

hola@maquetealo.com

What the model should show, what it will be used for and which drawings or files you have (DWG, PDF, Revit, SketchUp, Rhino…).

If you have drawings, you can attach them when you reply to our email.

07FAQ

Questions about pricing and quotes

It depends on the type of model. A white massing or competition model starts from €450 and typically stays under €1,500. A presentation model with façade detail costs €1,500–€6,000. Lit development models for marketing suites run from €5,000 to €25,000, and interactive models start from €12,000. All figures are indicative and exclude VAT; your written quote confirms the exact price.

Seven things: scale and size, level of detail, materials and finishes, lighting or interactivity, the deadline, how complete your drawings are, and packing, delivery and installation. Scale and detail usually carry the most weight, because they drive the number of parts and the hours of assembly. Give us a target figure and we'll suggest where to simplify without losing what the model needs to show.

For single parts, study models and complex geometry, often yes, and 3D printed pieces start from €150. For a full presentation model, not necessarily. Flat façades are quicker to laser-cut, and every model still needs hand finishing. We combine techniques and use each where it works best. See how we print and hand-finish models on our 3D printing service page.

No. The indicative ranges cover the model itself; packing and delivery depend on its size and destination, so we price them separately in each quote. Within Spain we ship in bespoke packaging, with wooden crates for large models. Delivery to the UK, the rest of Europe and the US is quoted on request, as is on-site installation in other cities. Around our Madrid workshop, we deliver and install models ourselves.

Drawings in DWG/DXF or PDF, or your model in Revit (RVT), IFC, SketchUp (SKP), Rhino (3DM), ArchiCAD (PLN), STL, OBJ or STEP. If you only have sketches and photos, we can still give you a first figure. Tell us the scale or maximum footprint, the level of detail, any lighting and your deadline. Describe the project in the quote form and attach your files when you reply to our email.

A massing or competition model can be ready from 3–5 working days, a presentation model takes 2–4 weeks, and large-format property, industrial or museum models take 4–10 weeks. Rush jobs are considered case by case. Because they mean reorganising the workshop, a tight deadline can affect the price, so tell us your date from the start.

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