If you just want the maths, here’s the TLDR: a standard, unprimed Hero Forge miniature currently costs about £15.93 when you buy the STL and have it printed by I Cast Minis in the UK.
That breaks down as:
- Hero Forge STL: £7.99 at the time of writing
- Regular resin print from I Cast Minis: £5.95
- Standard UK delivery: £1.99
- Total: £15.93
Add primer and the total comes to about £16.93. Hero Forge sets the price of the STL separately, so check the figure shown in its Buy menu before ordering in case it has changed.
You can also order a finished physical miniature directly from Hero Forge. Which route makes more sense depends on where you live, how quickly you need it and whether you might want another copy later. Here is the honest comparison for a UK player.
Option 1: order a physical miniature from Hero Forge
This is the simplest route on paper. Design your character, choose a physical material and let Hero Forge make it.
Hero Forge’s Standard Plastic 3D miniatures start at US$19.99 and arrive with grey primer. Its published UK shipping charge is US$13.99, giving a starting total of US$33.98 before any size or material upgrades and anything else added at checkout. Hero Forge says production can take up to four weeks before the order ships.
You may also see a US$12.99 starting price on Hero Forge’s site. That is for a colour acrylic standee, a flat character cut-out rather than a 3D-printed miniature.
For a like-for-like comparison of preparation, use the £16.93 I Cast Minis total with primer rather than the £15.93 unprimed option. Those totals include the STL at the previously observed UK price of £7.99, so check Hero Forge’s Buy menu for its current price.
The exact total in pounds will depend on the miniature, material, exchange rate and anything added at checkout.
This route suits you if you want one of Hero Forge’s full-colour or specialist material options and do not mind the international wait. It also keeps the whole order in one place.
Option 2: buy the STL and print it in the UK
The other route is to buy the downloadable STL file from Hero Forge, then send it to a UK printing service.
Hero Forge lists a standard STL download at $7.99 on its US pricing page. For UK customers, the Buy menu has recently shown £7.99.
The file normally appears in the Digital Downloads section of your account within 15–30 minutes, although Hero Forge asks customers to allow up to one business day.
Once you have downloaded the zip file, upload the STL on the I Cast Minis Hero Forge printing page. A regular print starts at £5.95 and standard UK delivery is £1.99.
I print it in high-detail ABS-like resin, remove the supports, wash and cure it, tidy it up and check it by hand before it sets off on its quest to you.
I normally dispatch made-to-order minis in 1–3 days. Standard UK delivery is free when your I Cast Minis order reaches £30.
What do you actually receive?
An STL is the digital shape of your miniature. It does not carry across the colours you used in the Hero Forge character creator.
If you choose an unprimed print, your mini arrives in the single resin colour selected on the product page. You can also add grey, white or black primer for £1, which gives you a clean base coat ready for painting.
The regular option is right for most standard adventurers and character-sized creatures. Mounted and double-size prints cost more because they use more resin and take up more room on the printer.
If you are unsure which option suits your character, compare the available Hero Forge miniature sizes.
Extra copies are where the STL route becomes particularly useful
You buy the Hero Forge STL once. If you want two copies of the same character, you do not need to buy the file again.
You only pay I Cast Minis for each physical print. Quantity discounts reduce the printing price as the number of copies goes up, too.
I use your upload only to make the copies you ordered, and it is automatically deleted after 30 days. This follows Hero Forge’s printing-service guidance.
Which Hero Forge option is best for you?
Buy a physical mini directly from Hero Forge if:
- You want an official full-colour or specialist material option
- You would rather keep the design and physical order together
- The longer production and international delivery time is not a problem
Buy the STL and print it in the UK if:
- You want a detailed resin mini at a lower starting total
- You want UK delivery and a shorter turnaround
- You want several copies of the same design
- You want to choose a resin colour or add primer before painting
For most UK players who want an unpainted character mini, the STL route is usually the more practical one. You still create the exact character in Hero Forge. The difference is simply who turns the file into the physical miniature.
How to order a Hero Forge print from I Cast Minis
- Finish your character in Hero Forge.
- In the Buy menu, select STL Download. Do not choose 3D Digital. That version only works in virtual tabletop software.
- Leave Hero Forge’s Print Improvements enabled.
- Download the zip file from your Hero Forge account and unzip it.
- Choose your size, resin colour and primer on the I Cast Minis Hero Forge printing page.
- Upload the STL, add it to your basket and check out.
If you are not sure which size to choose, or whether the file is suitable, send it to me through the Contact page. I am happy to check your file before you order.
I Cast Minis is an independent UK 3D printing service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hero Forge.