Short answer
The price of a 3D architectural render depends mainly on five things: the number of images, whether the views are interior or exterior, the level of detail and landscaping, how complete your drawings or model are, and your deadline. A set of renders typically takes 10–14 working days from a complete brief.
A render shows a building before it exists. This guide covers what renders are used for, how they are made and what decides the price.
What renders are used for
Architects, interior designers, developers, real estate agents and home owners use renders when they need imagery before the build is complete. The common uses are marketing campaigns, development applications, competitions and pre-sale.
How a render is produced
- Brief: we agree the views, mood, materials and lighting with you.
- Block model: the building is modelled from your drawings, or your own model is prepared for rendering.
- Draft: you receive draft images to review and comment on.
- Final: materials, lighting, landscaping and post-production are completed.
- Revisions: rounds to fine-tune materials, light and detail.
What affects the price
- Number of images. More views mean more camera setups, lighting and post-production.
- Interior or exterior. Interiors need furniture, finishes and lighting resolved in detail. Exteriors need context, landscaping and sky.
- Level of detail and landscaping. A furnished, planted scene takes longer than a simple massing view.
- How complete your drawings or model are. A full drawing set or a Revit or SketchUp model is quicker to work from than a sketch, because gaps in the design have to be resolved before it can be rendered.
- Your deadline.
Every project is quoted up front.
What to send for a quote
- drawings (plans and elevations) or a 3D model in Revit or SketchUp
- references for materials and mood
- the number of views you need, and whether they are interior or exterior
- your deadline
If the design is still early, a sketch and a short description are enough to start the conversation.
How long it takes
Typically 10–14 working days from a complete brief, including a draft round and revisions.
What you receive
Print- and web-ready images, with revision rounds included. Source files are available on request.
See architectural visualisation for recent work, or use the quote form on any page.
Diego Benavides leads Diego Benavides Design, a Melbourne studio for architectural visualisation and home design. This guide is general information, last checked on 7 October 2026.