It's one of the most common questions new hobbyists ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on the standard you want. A tabletop-ready army can be done in a few weekends; a display-standard army can take a year of evenings.
The short answer: expect roughly 1–2 hours per infantry model at a good tabletop standard, 4–8 hours for characters, and 10–30 hours for large vehicles or monsters. A typical 2,000-point army works out at around 80–150 hours.
Painting time by standard
| Standard | Infantry model | Character | Vehicle or monster | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speed / one-coat | 20–45 min | 1–2 hrs | 3–6 hrs | Clean base colours, auto-shaded |
| Good tabletop | 1–2 hrs | 4–8 hrs | 10–20 hrs | Basecoat, wash, highlights, based |
| Display | 4–10 hrs | 15–40 hrs | 30–80+ hrs | Layering, blending, freehand |
These are rough guides; your own pace depends on experience and the models you choose.
How long does a 2,000-point army take to paint?
At a good tabletop standard, most painters spend somewhere between 80 and 150 hours. Elite armies with few models are faster; horde armies with 100+ infantry take much longer, even at speed-painting standard.
How long does one infantry model take?
Around an hour or two for a good tabletop finish once you're practised. Your first few models will take longer while you settle on a recipe.
How can I paint an army faster?
Batch paint in squads, prime with a coloured spray, use one-coat or contrast paints and keep the recipe short. Batching alone can halve your time per model. See batch painting an army and one-coat paints.
Does an airbrush save time?
Yes, for basecoats and large vehicles. It lays down smooth coats on a whole squad in minutes, though cleaning adds a little time. Our airbrush beginner's guide explains the basics.
What slows painting down the most?
Constantly changing techniques, painting models one at a time and redoing mistakes. Settling on a recipe and sticking with it is the biggest single speed boost. Our guide to fixing mistakes helps when things go wrong.
How long should I paint in one session?
Short, regular sessions beat occasional marathons. Thirty to sixty minutes most evenings keeps momentum and avoids burnout.
Do bases add a lot of time?
A little. Texture paint, a drybrush and a rim colour adds about 10–15 minutes per model when done in batches. See how to base miniatures.
Is it worth paying a commission painter?
If you'd rather play than paint, yes. Prices vary hugely by standard, so compare a few painters and ask for photos of finished work at the standard you want.
More hobby guides
- How to Paint Your First Warhammer 40,000 Miniature
- How to Choose a Colour Scheme for Your Army
- How to Paint Blue Armour
- How to Paint Green Armour
- Warhammer 40,000 Hobby Guides & Free Tools
Warhammer 40,000® is a registered trade mark of Games Workshop Limited. This is an independent hobby guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Games Workshop.