A spinning 3D model on a product page lets shoppers turn the product, zoom in and, on a phone, place it in their room with augmented reality. To do that, you need a web-ready 3D model. This guide explains what that file is, what it costs, and why the cheapest way to get one is to reuse a model you already have.
What a web-ready 3D model is
A model for rendering can be huge: millions of polygons and large texture files. A web model has to load in a few seconds on a phone. So it is optimised:
- GLB (glTF binary): the standard for web 3D viewers, Shopify and Android AR
- USDZ: the format Apple devices use for AR Quick Look
- Optimised geometry: detail kept where shoppers look, removed where they do not
- Baked textures: materials and colour in compact image maps, sized for mobile
Shopify supports 3D models as product media, so the file appears in the product gallery alongside your photos.
What it costs
- Marketplace freelancers: low prices for simple shapes, with accuracy and file optimisation varying widely.
- Specialist 3D studios: priced per product, higher for complex shapes, many materials or moving parts.
- From a model you already have: the cheapest route by far, because the modeling is already paid for.
Our price for a web 3D viewer file (an optimised GLB, with AR on mobile) is $270 for any product we have already modeled. If we have not modeled it yet, the model is built as part of a render package from $490, or as part of our Explainer Bundle at $2,390 (exploded stills, a mechanism animation and a web 3D and AR file from one model). See pricing.
What affects the price
- Shape complexity: a bottle is simple; a backpack with straps and zips is not.
- Materials: glass, transparent plastics and fabrics need extra care to look right in a browser.
- Variants: each colourway is a new texture set, cheap once the model exists.
- Moving parts: an opening lid or folding mechanism needs rigging.
- File size target: the tighter the size budget, the more optimisation work.
Is a 3D viewer worth it?
It is most useful for products where shape, scale and fit decide the purchase: furniture, electronics, tools, eyewear and anything a buyer wants to see from below or behind. It is less useful for flat products or commodities.
Read interactive 3D product viewers for Shopify for how to set one up and measure the effect.
The smart order to buy in
- Build the model once for 3D product rendering.
- Use it for listing images and lifestyle scenes.
- Add the GLB and USDZ files for $270.
- Reuse the same model for animation and exploded views.
That way, nobody models your product twice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 3D model for Shopify cost?
It depends on complexity and whether a model already exists. With us, a web-ready GLB with AR is $270 for any product we have already modeled.
What file formats do I need for AR?
GLB for Android and most web viewers, and USDZ for Apple AR Quick Look. We can deliver both.
Can you make the model from photos?
Yes. Clear photos from several angles plus one or two measurements are usually enough. CAD makes it faster and more exact.
Will the file load fast on mobile?
That is what optimisation is for. We size geometry and textures for mobile loading and test the file in a web viewer before delivery.
See this quality on your own product
First-time clients get a complete, high-resolution 3D render of their product for $130. Judge the quality before committing to a full package.
