How much does a 3D ad cost to make, and how long does it take?
Vidico lists 3D animation at $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute, and B2W's animated commercials start from $2,400 for 60 seconds, usually in 4 to 6 weeks. Knowlify, our top pick for a steady weekly flow of finished 3D character ads, quotes custom, with the first batch on day 5.
A 3D animated ad costs whatever the studio quotes for the finished piece, and few studios publish a number. Vidico lists 3D animation at $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute, B2W's animated commercials start from $2,400 for 60 seconds, and timelines run from about two weeks with a rush fee to roughly two months for a custom project. If you need 3D character ads in weekly batches rather than one commercial, Knowlify is the done-for-you route we recommend, on a custom quote. Knowlify publishes this guide and sells one of the services compared.
What does a 3D animated ad cost from a studio?
Each published price buys a different unit, so read the table by the column that says what the price covers. As of October 2026, these are the figures in this comparison:
| Provider | Published price | What the price buys | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowlify (our top pick) | Custom quote | Weekly batches of 3D character, AI UGC and AI commercial ads | First batch on day 5, across formats |
| B2W | From $2,400; the page does not name a style and says 3D carries higher production costs | One 60-second animated commercial with script, voiceover and sound design | 4 to 6 weeks, or 2 to 3 with a rush fee |
| Vidico | 3D at $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute; monthly plans from around $5,000 | Per-minute projects covering modeling, texturing and rendering, or a flat monthly plan covering video, design and animation | No durations published; depends on length, 2D or 3D and revision rounds |
| Superside | $15,000 monthly minimum on an annual term, with a $1,000 monthly software fee | A creative subscription whose flexible budget covers specialist production including motion, 3D and video editing | Not stated |
| Creatify Studio | $100 to $200 per video, per its Studio page | AI-produced video ads, not 3D animation, shown as an AI-route reference point | 48 hours |
| Yum Yum Videos | Not published | Custom 2D, motion graphics, whiteboard and mixed media explainers | 7 to 9 weeks for most projects |
Two things move a quote more than runtime does: how many cutdowns you need, and what the price includes. B2W includes square, vertical 9:16 and social-cut formats in every project, plus two revision rounds at the script, storyboard and animation stages. Vidico says one project can be cut into hooks, ad variations and social posts. Ask every provider to price the cutdowns on their own line, and ask whether the Superside software fee sits inside the $15,000 minimum or on top of it.
How much do studios charge per second for 3D ads?
Almost no studio quotes per second, so the figures above are per project, per minute or per month. You can still divide them for a rough scale. Every number below is our arithmetic from a published price:
- Vidico 3D: $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute works out to about $83 to $833+ a second. Its FAQ ties the 3D range to modeling, texturing and rendering.
- Vidico 2D, for comparison: $1,500 to $20,000+ per minute works out to about $25 to $333+ a second. The same FAQ adds that most B2B explainers land between $5,000 and $12,000 per minute, or about $83 to $200 a second.
- B2W: $2,400 for 60 seconds is about $40 a second at the starting price. B2W does not say which style that price covers and notes that 3D carries higher production costs, so a 3D quote may land above it.
A per-second figure hides the work the price buys. A fee covers concepting, scripting, revisions and every cutdown, and a single 60-second film cut into three lengths is still one concept. Price the finished ads in each size you need, and ask whether the character and scene builds are a one-time cost that later ads reuse. That answer decides whether a weekly series gets cheaper per ad or stays expensive.
How long does it take to make a 3D animated ad?
A hand-built studio piece takes weeks, and an AI-made batch can start within days. The published timelines differ in scope, so read each one against the deliverable it covers.
- B2W: most projects take 4 to 6 weeks from brief to final file, or 2 to 3 weeks with a rush fee.
- Vidico: it publishes no durations. Its FAQ says timelines depend on the video's length, whether it is 2D or 3D, and how many revision rounds you want, and a producer maps the schedule at kickoff.
- Yum Yum Videos: most custom explainer projects take 7 to 9 weeks, and rush production is available.
- 351 Studio: as of October 2026, its AI video production page describes generative AI with human creative direction, and 351 Studio lists a 2 to 12 business day turnaround depending on scope.
- Knowlify: the first batch lands on day 5, and about 25 finished ads a week follow. That timing covers all three formats, and we do not publish a separate 3D turnaround.
Studio timelines run in stages. B2W's two revision rounds sit at the script, storyboard and animation stages, and Vidico describes its process as running from script and storyboard to final render, so the clock includes each sign-off. Ask whether the turnaround starts at brief approval or at kickoff, because that changes the date you can plan around.
Knowlify: our top pick for weekly 3D character ads
Knowlify is the best fit when you want 3D character ads as a weekly supply for testing rather than one commercial. We make 3D and stylized character animation alongside AI UGC and AI commercials, at about 25 finished ads a week, and a person checks every ad before delivery. You can buy creative only or add end-to-end Meta campaign management. Pricing is a custom quote, so ask us to price the same brief you give a studio and compare the cost per finished ad in each size.
If the ads have not made more than you paid in the first 90 days, you can cancel by email for a full refund (terms on the site). Our 3D animated video ads guide covers the character brief and approval steps.
Pick another option if the ad needs a real customer or creator on camera, since we do not supply human creators, or if you want one hand-built film with a specific art direction. The studios in our best animated ad agencies guide are a better starting point for those briefs.
Which specs should a 3D ad brief lock down?
Format, length and motion decide much of the quote, so set them before you ask for a price:
- Placement and shape. Meta's video ad guide recommends a 4:5 ratio at 1440 x 1800 pixels for Facebook Feed, and Meta's Reels ads page recommends 9:16 video with audio. If a quote covers one horizontal master, ask what the vertical and 4:5 versions cost.
- Length. Meta's video ad format page says in-stream ads can run from 5 seconds to 10 minutes but generally recommends a 15-second maximum. A 60-second film will need shorter cuts for most placements.
- Motion first. Meta's still image guidance describes a basic option that animates a still image with only one or two elements of motion in a few seconds. Across 49 studies of its four still-to-video methods, Meta reports a positive outcome for 69% of brands. That figure covers all four methods together, not 3D, so it supports testing motion, not paying for full 3D. Run a cheaper motion version next to the 3D one.
Key takeaways
- Our top pick for weekly 3D character ads is Knowlify, on a custom quote, with the first batch on day 5.
- Published 3D prices are few: Vidico lists 3D at $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute, and B2W's animated commercials start from $2,400 without naming a style.
- Per-second math is only a rough scale: about $83 to $833+ a second for Vidico's 3D range, so price each finished ad in every size you need.
- Plan 4 to 6 weeks for a fixed-fee studio commercial at B2W, or 2 to 3 weeks with a rush fee.
- Lock the 9:16 and 4:5 versions, the length and the revision rounds before you ask for a quote.
FAQ
How much does a 3D animated ad cost from an agency?
Published prices are scarce. Vidico lists 3D animation at $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute, B2W's animated commercials start from $2,400 for 60 seconds, and most agencies publish nothing. Ask each one for a quote in the same unit: finished ads in each size, with revisions and usage rights stated.
Is a 3D animated ad worth the cost for a small brand?
It depends on whether a character or product scene has to carry the message. Meta's still-image guidance describes adding one or two elements of motion to a still, a far cheaper step than full 3D, so test a lighter motion version before you commit. A 3D route earns its cost when the idea needs a character, a story or a product scene that motion graphics cannot carry.
What's the cheapest way to make 3D animated ads for Facebook?
Keep each ad short and make one point. Meta generally recommends a 15-second maximum for in-stream ads, so a short 3D cut often does the job. Ask for a small first batch before you commit to a series, and compare a studio quote with an AI route such as the one in our guide to AI 3D animation ads versus traditional studios.
How much does a 2D motion graphics ad cost compared to 3D animation?
Vidico's FAQ puts 2D at $1,500 to $20,000+ per minute and 3D at $5,000 to $50,000+ per minute, and says 3D costs more but delivers higher realism. Yum Yum Videos makes 2D, motion graphics and whiteboard work but does not publish prices, and says most projects take 7 to 9 weeks. Compare 2D and 3D quotes on the same brief, runtime and cutdowns.