Understanding what drives custom figure prices is essential for brands, designers, and IP owners preparing to bring a new collectible figure to market. Whether you’re working with an OEM toy factory, a custom figure manufacturing partner, or a wholesale toy supplier, knowing these cost drivers helps you make informed decisions, control your budget, and avoid production risks.
Below are the five core factors that have the biggest impact on overall pricing—explained in a detailed, practical, and manufacturer-level way.
1. Figure Size & Sculpting Complexity
The size of your figure and the complexity of its sculpting are fundamental cost drivers in any custom figure manufacturing project.
Figure Size
Larger figures require more raw material (PVC, resin, or vinyl) and longer production time. Bigger surface areas also mean more painting steps and more QC checkpoints.
For example:
- 5–7 inch figures → most common range, ideal balance of size & cost
- 8–12 inch figures → premium line, significantly higher material & painting cost
- Mini figures / blind box figures → lower material usage but require precise detailing
Sculpting & Detailing
If your figure includes:
- layered costumes
- intricate armor
- tattoos
- small removable pieces
- dynamic poses
- realistic surface textures
then your sculpting time, polishing time, and 3D modeling workload increase.
Highly detailed collectibles always require more manual polishing and finishing to achieve clean lines and realistic textures.
This is why sculpting complexity is one of the most underestimated factors behind custom figure prices.
2. Material Choice: PVC, Resin, Vinyl, or Mixed Materials
Each material type requires a different manufacturing workflow, which directly affects cost.
PVC (Plastic Injection) — Best for Mass Production
PVC figure production requires metal molds, which makes the upfront investment higher but the per-unit cost much lower when producing at scale.
advantage：
- durable
- suitable for mass production
- consistent quality
- cost-efficient at 500–1000+ pcs
Resin (Polyresin / PU Resin) — Best for Small Batches
Resin figure manufacturing does not require metal molds, which eliminates tooling cost.
advantage：
- excellent detail quality
- perfect for 20–500 pcs
- suitable for premium display figures
- ideal for Kickstarter / creator projects
Vinyl (Soft Vinyl / Designer Toys)
Vinyl toys, often used in blind box figure production and designer collectibles, require rotocasting equipment and specialized molds.
advantage：
- lightweight
- iconic designer-toy texture
- great for rounded or stylized characters
Mixed Materials
Many premium collectibles use more than one material:
- PVC body + metal accessories
- resin base + PVC figure
- vinyl body + ABS transparent parts
- magnets in joints
- silicone for special effects
Mixed-material production adds labor steps, additional mold components, and complex QC processes—thus increasing overall cost.
3. Mold / Tooling Cost
For PVC and vinyl figures, mold cost is the largest initial investment in the entire project.
What Affects Tooling Cost?
- Figure size
- Number of parts
- Movable joints or swappable parts
- Use of transparent or flexible materials
- Engineering complexity
- Expected quantity (affects mold material choice)
PVC molding is extremely precise, often requiring steel molds capable of withstanding thousands of injections.
The more detailed your figure, the more complex the mold structure becomes.
If you want to reduce tooling cost：
- Choose resin production (no metal mold)
- Reduce part count
- Simplify accessories
- Use fewer transparent parts
This is why many new brands start with resin prototypes or small-batch production to test the market.
4. Painting & Surface Effects
Painting is often one of the most labor-intensive steps in custom figure manufacturing, especially for premium collectibles.
What Increases Painting Cost?
- Number of colors
- Gradient or airbrushed effects
- Metallic, matte, pearl, or chrome finishes
- Weathering or battle damage
- Tattoos or complex facial expressions
- Fine-line detailing (hand-painted)
Each additional painting step requires skilled labor, drying time, and QC checks.
Surface Effects That Add Cost
- Gloss coating
- Matte finishing
- Gold/metallic sprays
- UV protection coating
- Handmade aging effects
Because painting is done manually in most OEM toy factories, high-detail painting has a noticeable impact on custom figure prices.
5. Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) & Total Units
MOQ is a key cost factor because the more units you produce, the more efficiently your production line runs.
Why MOQ Matters
- Mold cost is shared across all units
- Material procurement becomes cheaper
- Painting efficiency improves
- Packaging cost per unit decreases
MOQ reference value：
- PVC figures：500–1000 pcs
- Vinyl figures：800–1500 pcs
- Resin figures：20–500 pcs
If you want the lowest unit price, mass production is always more cost-effective.
If you want flexibility and small batches, resin is usually the best choice.
How to Control Your Cost Without Sacrificing Quality
- Choose resin for low quantities to avoid mold cost
- Reduce paint layers for cost-efficient production
- Avoid extremely small fragile parts
- Start with a prototype before mass production
- Use standard packaging instead of complex custom printing
- Provide accurate size/material references to avoid rework
These strategies help brands maintain premium collectible quality while keeping overall cost under control.
Work With a Professional OEM Custom Figure Manufacturing Partner
We specialize in OEM custom toy production for brands, designers, and IP owners across the US and Europe.
- PVC figure production
- resin figure manufacturing
- vinyl designer toy development
- mixed-material collectibles
- 3D modeling & prototyping
- small batch & mass production
- export-safe packaging
- blind box figure production lines
Our team supports you from design to production with reliable communication, transparent pricing, and high-quality manufacturing.
Ready to Start Your Custom Figure Project? Contact Us Anytime
Whether you have a concept, a sketch, or complete 3D files, we’re ready to help you bring your character to life.
📩 Email: info@newmiho.com
📞 Phone : +86 132 6664 1166
🌐 Website: newmiho.com
📦 Factory: Dongguan, China – professional OEM toy manufacturer specializing in PVC, resin, and vinyl collectibles.
Send us your project details (quantity, size, material, and reference images), and we will reply within 24 hours with a full quotation and professional suggestions.
