ModelCalcs.uk
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.