How much does a typical diorama cost to build?

A simple 1:35 vignette can be done for under £20 if you already have paints. A full diorama with figures, vegetation and water effects typically costs £40-100 depending on the size and detail level. Competition-standard pieces can easily exceed £150.

Where can I save money on diorama materials?

DIY terrain materials (foam offcuts, garden sand, dried herbs for vegetation, bark for rocks) are cheap or free. Paint is the one area not to skimp on — cheap paint gives poor results. Buy scatter and foliage in bulk rather than small packets.

Should I include tools in my budget?

If you are buying tools specifically for this project, yes. But most modellers already have basic tools. This calculator focuses on consumable materials. See our Tools & Equipment calculators for tool-specific planning.

Material Cost Calculator — Diorama Budget Planner

Estimate total material costs for your diorama project. Enter your own prices for each category to build a complete budget.

Base / frame

Plinth, picture frame or cut MDF/plywood base (typ. £3–15)

Foam / cork

XPS/blue foam or cork sheet for building up terrain (typ. £5–12)

Plaster / filler

Modelling plaster, Polyfilla or Sculptamold for groundwork & rocks (typ. £3–10)

Paints & pigments

Acrylics, washes and weathering pigments — don't skimp here (typ. £8–25)

Vegetation & scatter

Static grass, foliage, scatter and tufts — cheaper bought in bulk (typ. £5–20)

Figures

Crew or civilian figures, resin or plastic (typ. £5–25 per figure)

Accessories & details

Photo-etch, stowage, signage and small detail parts (typ. £3–15)

Water effects

Resin water, gel medium or still-water product for ponds & mud (typ. £6–20)

Add 15% contingency

For forgotten items and price changes (adjust the rate under Advanced Options)

How We Calculate This

This calculator simply totals your entered material costs across all diorama categories and optionally adds a contingency margin (default 15%, adjustable from 5% to 30% under Advanced Options).

Method

Total = Sum of all material categories + contingency
The contingency margin covers forgotten items, offcuts wasted and price variations between suppliers
Enter your own prices — costs vary widely by supplier and region

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Base Size Calculator

Calculate the right diorama base dimensions for your subject and scale.

Terrain Calculator

Estimate plaster, foam and scenic materials for terrain features.

Vegetation Calculator

Plan static grass, foliage, tree and ground cover quantities for your scene.

Water Effect Calculator

Calculate resin, water effect and ripple product volumes for water features.

Lighting Calculator

Plan LED quantities, resistor values and power supply for diorama lighting.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.