This guide is meant to help you try to get an idea of how much something would cost, before contacting me. I am almost always open to doing price quotes, but it helps if you can follow this guide to get an idea of if it would fit your budget first, as well as know some details to mention when asking for an exact price quote! This guide is not exact, your final quote is subject to many variables that cannot be listed, but I hope you can get a pretty close idea. Questions are welcome, but only if you are serious about pursuing it!
Shipping is a separate calculated charge, on top of the price of the item. I typically always use insured Priority Mail for USA orders, which starts at about $15 for smaller items, averages about $20, but can go up significantly based on size, weight, and value. I am willing to consider international work, but the shipping charges will be significantly more. (Ground Advantage is available for smaller items, and can be under $10 even insured).
All prices are in USD
Asking for a quote (and even receiving a price quote) does not guarantee I will work on your request, and I have the right to refuse for any reason.
Please direct questions to me via email zombiekaiju@gmail.com, but for a faster response you can message me on Twitter/X @ZombieKaiju if it will let you. Email notifications are a bit spotty, but I check them daily.
REMINDER: My plush are all handmade pieces of art, and are not meant to be toys or comparable to mass produced items. These each take me many many many hours to pattern and assemble. Materials and the machinery I use to make them are not cheap either! Art is a luxury item, and if you can't or do not want to pay these prices for the item, that is ok!
My custom chao plushies range in price ($100-$225, custom chao may be higher) depending on which one you get! They start at $125 for classic neutral or hero, $150 for any chao with a spiky emote ball, $150 for a black market chao, $175 for an Eggman Chao, $200 for a Tails Chao or Amy Chao, $225 for Shadow Chao, and various prices for the custom ones. I also have surprise chao (where you get a random one chosen by me) for $100! Some Chao are available as Made To Order options on my Ko-Fi page. For custom chao, as well as info on what kinds I can make or how you can customize them, can be found on my google form.
Fully Custom Plush are plush that require me to make an entirely new pattern before I can make your plush. Making patterns is even more time consuming than assembly, so plush of this nature will cost quite a bit.
Small Plush ( 6 - 11") start at $200 for the simplest of designs, average around $350
Medium Plush (12 - 18") start at $300 for simple, average at around $500
Large Plush ( 19-24") start at $400 for simple, average at around $700
Extra Large Plush ( 25" +, I try to not exceed 36" unless it is noodley or foldable) start at $700, average around $1200
(If you have an extremely simple design request, such as a solid color circle with a couple embroidered details, or something similar that is a single shape with limited colors or markings, it may be cheaper than my starting prices to make. Not every shape is simple though, but feel free to ask. If the shape has any other shapes attached to it or coming out of it, it is no longer simple.)
The complexity of your character is the BIGGEST factor in price, and I will try to explain it as best I can. For a quick example, a plush of Kirby would be considered Simple. A plush of Yoshi would be an Average complexity. A plush of a Sonic character or OC would be considered Complex and would exceed the average costs, significantly moreso if it is an OC with complicated hair or excessive clothing details or pattern markings. The amount of shapes, colors, and parts to the character all impact the cost significantly.
DETAILS:
COLORS
A plush with 2-3 main colors will fit into the size and complexity ranges, but any colors 4 and more will add to your cost.
Each color that is significant to the character will cost about $20 (per color), and $5-10 for colors with smaller parts (depending on the size of the plush). If the plush is Large or Extra Large, the significant color price may double due to needing more fabric.
Thread colors are included in my base prices, unless you need a significant number of colors, or a special thread (such as glow in the dark or metallic). Normal thread colors are $4 per, and special threads are about $5-8 extra per color.
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
If the clothing is necessary to your character, please let me know when requesting a quote, and make sure it is included in the reference image you send.
If you would like the clothing to be made of a different kind of material than Minky, please let me know when requesting quote, so I can find pricing for the new materials. If you would like the clothing to be remove-able, you will need to provide a reference both with and without the clothing, and this will add to the cost $50 and up per piece depending on what the clothing is, how big it is, and how much of it there is. I WILL NOT make NSFW plush, but if you have a cartoon or animal character that has a hat or jacket or shirts you want removeable, that's fine.
I can make accessories for your character if requested, and given a reference. Complexity of accessories will need to be discussed before the cost can be calculated. I can include magnets to attach it for $10 extra, but you will need to let me know what you want and where you want them to attach before I quote you (have to make sure its doable!)
The smaller the plush, the less detail I can add to it, and the design may require simplification!
OTHER DETAILS THAT IMPACT COST
The biggest thing is how many parts go into the character. Each limb, claw, ear, cheek fluff, etc counts as a separate part. Sometimes hands and arms, or feet and legs, count as separate parts as well. It is hard to explain how to know just how many parts a plush will have since it depends on how I pattern it, but just know that the more complicated the shapes are, the more it will cost. Just because it looks simple to you, does not mean it is simple to make.
Applique and embroidered details!
Applique would be for stripes, spots, markings, zigzag color changes (or any color change that isn't a straight line). This will make any piece into a complex piece if it is needed. The more markings/color changes, the more the cost will increase.
Embroidery is included in most plush, but the complexity of what needs it can add to the cost. If it's just eyes and mouth being embroidered, it's going to fall into the price ranges based on size. If you need any special markings embroidered on, it can add to the cost depending on how complex the embroidery needs to be. Each thing that needs to be embroidered will add to the cost as I will need to make a file and run embroidery with colored thread for all of the required markings. If there is excessive need for embroidery, it's either going to cost quite a bit more, or I may deny your project.
ADD ONS
Wire Armature (to make your plush pose-able!) is +$120 to the base cost of your plush. This includes an armature to allow the arms and legs to bend, and fingers if it would work in the character. I can potentially add a tail wire in this cost as well. If your character has a significantly complex bone structure, or extra limbs, I will have to charge more. This option is available for Small, Medium, and some Large plush. If your characters limbs are very thick, this may not be possible at all.
Magnets (to let your character hold accessories) +$10 for up to 4 magnets anywhere in your plush, and up to 4 more in accessories you request as well (accessories cost extra as well). More magnets can be added if needed.
Poly Pellets! These don't necessarily add to the cost, but it's an option on how I can stuff your character, or even certain parts. Please let me know if you would like Poly Pellets, or regular stuffing, when requesting your character. If you do not specify, I will decide with my best judgement. (Poly pellets are used to make something a beanie, or just to add weight to a part).
Humanoid: start at $250 for simple, average around $350
(Accessories and removable clothes will add to the cost. A coat (like the Phantom or Professor Turo wear) will be $60 extra for example).
Drider: around $400
Chibi Beanies are available in size Small which is 9" tall, and size Medium which is 14" tall. Prices above are for the Small size. Please ask for a price quote for Medium size Chibi Beanies.
Other species can be made, but if they require special patterning, they will cost extra for the time patterning the new shapes.
If your character has excessive detail (like tattoos, markings, jewelry, clothes), please let me know what can and cannot be simplified when you are requesting a quote, as this may impact the price, but also whether or not I can even make it. If you can provide a simplified chibi reference for your character (front and back), this will help me to make sure I'm making it the way you envision it!
Dog/Wolf: start at $250 for simple (includes 2 fabric colors, and embroidered eyes/mouth/paw pads), but average around $350
Printed Minky fabric +$200 for any marking and color complexity (this means I would design a digital file of the pattern markings to be printed onto minky using as many colors as you want). Please note that with this method I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy in the colors once they are printed, but if you are ok with a longer work time, we can order samples to make sure we get the colors right before proceeding. Another thing to note is that the service I use for printed minky prints onto a white base, and the white can peek through darker colors when the fur is rustled. If you have any questions about this, please ask BEFORE we proceed with an order so I can make sure I can get it done the way you'd be happy with!
Detailed Eye Embroidery +$50 (for any eyes with multiple iris colors or gradients)
The base prices are for a plush that would be 8 inches long paw to paw laying down. I can enlarge the pattern, but this will raise the cost.
For plush in this pattern made from regular (not printed) fabric, the main factors to the cost will be the amount of colors needed, and the complexity of your character's markings. I can alter this pattern to be other types of animals by changing the head shape and tail shape, so if you want a different kind of animal just let me know and we can discuss options!
If you can provide a reference of your character in the chibi style similar to my beanies or close to it, that will help immensely in making sure I can make your character as accurate as possible!
(MORE WILL BE ADDED AS I DEVELOP NEW BASE PATTERNS, OR LEARN WHAT PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH)
Once again, all prices are in USD, and shipping is a separate calculated cost. If you agree to a quoted price and start the process, the cost (including shipping, unless it is a large or international order) will be invoiced to you via Paypal. Full amount is required up front, unless we have discussed otherwise. Work will not begin until full amount is received. Please do not request a commission unless you are SERIOUS. It's okay if you wouldn't be ready for a few months or even a year, still get a quote. But once you commit, there is no cancelling or refunds. My turnaround time varies based on the project and my schedule, but I typically try to finish most simple to medium complexity projects within a month of starting, and I try to work on them in in the order they are commissioned in. If you are curious of your spot in the queue, please feel free to reach out anytime, although I try to remember to provide enough updates that you will not have to wonder. I do not accept deadlines due to the unknowing nature of my physical disabilities which may flare up unexpectedly, but I typically try to get things done as fast as I can.
Pricing for Sculpts, Props, Stickers, and more will need to be discussed, as I have not done enough commission work for these types of items to have a guide handy.
I can also remake past projects if there was a plush I made that you wanted. Some of these items may end up as pre made items for sale on my Etsy or Ko-Fi shops, so check there first!
Options include:
Blaze the Cat (24") $515 (done as a commission)
Skeletor (10") $190 (on Ko-Fi)
Demi Veemon (need to measure) (Price TBD)
Veemon (need to measure, I think he is around 12") (Price TBD)
Vivian $240 (on Ko-Fi)
Splatoon Squid Beanie (7") $30+ (depends on colors) (on Ko-Fi)
BIG Splatoon Squid Beanie (13") $60+ (depends on colors) (on Ko-Fi)
Eggie Plush (Keychain or Beanie, 2-3") $16 (on Ko-Fi)
Swampert (10") $450
Jumbo Jack Frost $400 (on Ko-Fi)
Jumbo Black Frost $400 (on Ko-Fi)
If one you wanted isn't listed here, I either don't want to make it again, or you would need to message me to find out if I would do it again, and how much it would be.