Commission
Build a costume for a client with measurements, approval checkpoints, and shipping. Covers client briefs, quoting, progress communication, approval gates, and professional handoff for cosplay, fursuit, drag, and sewing commissions.
10 weeks
11
6
2
See the whole look before you start.
References, materials, budget, and build order for Commission.
Timeline
10 weeks
Color refs
Materials
6 items
Budget
$200 - $1500
save the visual refs
Full reference board
The preview above is curated for scanning. This is the working board you clone into your own build, with notes, colors, product images, and extra references intact.
Images are sourced from around the internet to help you get started. Use the web clipper to build your own reference library.
Reference images are gathered from around the web and belong to their original creators. We link back to where we found each one. If something here is yours and you want it taken down, email us and it is gone.
Build guide
Building for someone else changes everything. Your own cosplay can be 90% done and "good enough." A commission needs to be 100% done, fits a body you might never see in person, and has a client on the other end who's paying real money for a specific vision. The craft skills are the same. The project management is completely different.
Your deliverable is a finished costume (or costume piece) that matches the client's brief, fits their measurements, passes their approval, and arrives safely in their hands. The process includes communication milestones alongside construction milestones because client expectation management is half the job.
Get the brief right or the entire project goes wrong. Your first conversation needs to nail down: exactly what the client wants (specific character, specific version, specific details), their measurements, their budget, their deadline, and their expectations for quality level. Write all of this down in a shared document. Screenshots, reference images, color samples. Leave nothing to verbal memory.
Quote honestly and include a buffer. Calculate your material costs, estimate your hours, multiply hours by your rate, and add 15-20% for unexpected issues. Don't quote low to win the job. Undercharging leads to resentment, rushed work, and you losing money on the project. A client who can't afford your real price is not your client.
Client Brief and Measurements
Collect reference images from the client and confirm every detail in writing. Take or receive measurements using a standardized measurement sheet (bust, waist, hips, torso length, arm length, head circumference if applicable, inseam, shoulder width). If you can't measure in person, send a measurement guide with photos showing exactly where to measure.
Quoting
Draft a detailed build plan listing every component, the materials needed, estimated hours, and total cost. Break the cost into materials and labor so the client understands what they're paying for. Include your revision policy (how many rounds of changes are included, what costs extra). Get written approval on the plan and quote before ordering a single thing.
Materials
Source and order materials only after client approval on the quote. Keep receipts for everything. If a specific fabric or material is unavailable and you need to substitute, send the client a photo of the alternative and get approval before using it. Surprises are bad in commissions.
Construction Phase 1
Build the base construction. Take progress photos at natural checkpoints (garment body assembled, armor pieces shaped but unpainted, etc.) and send them to the client. This is not optional. Clients who don't hear from you for weeks get anxious, and anxious clients send anxious messages.
Progress Communication
Send clear, well-lit progress photos showing the current state of the build. Include a brief note about what's done, what's next, and whether you're on schedule. If you're behind schedule, say so immediately. A client can handle "I'm running a week behind" but cannot handle radio silence followed by a missed deadline.
Details and Finishing
Complete all detail work, painting, finishing, and weathering. Take final photos of the completed piece under good lighting and from multiple angles. Send these to the client for approval before shipping. This is their chance to request any final adjustments.
Client Approval
Get explicit written approval ("this looks great, ship it") before packing and shipping. If the client requests changes, determine whether they're within the original scope or constitute additional work. Scope creep kills commission profitability.
Fitting and Adjustments
If possible, do a fitting (in person or by shipping a muslin/mockup). For remote clients, build adjustment room into the construction (adjustable straps, let-out seam allowances, laced closures). Include fitting instructions with the delivered piece.
Shipping and Handoff
Package everything with extreme care. Tissue paper between painted surfaces, pool noodle padding around armor, garments folded along seam lines in a garment bag. Ship with tracking and insurance. Include care instructions, a packing list, and your contact info for questions. A handoff note showing how to put the costume on is a professional touch that clients remember.
Common mistakes
- No written agreement. Verbal agreements lead to disputes. Get the brief, quote, payment terms, and revision policy in writing before you start building.
- Insufficient progress photos. Clients need visual updates every 1-2 weeks minimum. Radio silence breeds anxiety and refund requests.
- Absorbing scope creep. If the client adds components or changes the design mid-build, that's additional work and additional cost. Quote the change formally before building it.
- Underquoting. Calculate your actual hours honestly. If the build takes 60 hours and you charged for 30, that's not a commission problem. That's a quoting problem.
- Poor shipping. A beautiful commission damaged in transit is a failed commission. Pack like you're shipping glass. Insure the package for the full value.
Commissions are how you turn cosplay skills into a sustainable practice. The craft is table stakes. Client management is the real skill.
Components
Client costume
Add-ons / accessories
Materials list
6 itemsEstimated total cost
$200 - $1500
Milestone timeline
10 weeks- 1
Client brief and reference collection
Research
- 2
Take or receive client measurements
Research
- 3
Draft build plan and quote
Patterning
- 4
Client approval on plan and quote
Patterning
- 5
Source and order materials
Materials
- 6
Build phase 1 — base construction
Construction
- 7
Progress photos to client
Construction
- 8
Build phase 2 — details and finishing
Details
- 9
Client approval on completed work
Finishing
- 10
Final adjustments from feedback
Fitting
- 11
Package and ship or arrange handoff
Packing
Frequently
asked questions.
Related tools and guides
Plan your build, estimate costs, and get ready.
Budget Calculator
Estimate your build cost before you start buying materials.
Convention Checklist
88-item packing checklist. Check off items as you pack.
Prop Scaling Calculator
Scale reference images to your body measurements.
How Much Does EVA Foam Armor Cost?
Real build budgets with specific products and dollar amounts.
Cosplay Commission Cost Breakdown
Real build budgets with specific products and dollar amounts.
Cosplay on Costumary
Templates, tools, and workspace built for cosplay makers.
Browse all templates
Explore build plans across 10 craft verticals.
Debut your cosplay build
Upcoming conventions where you could wear this. Dates, checklists, and budget tools included.
New York Comic Con 2026
Oct 8-11 · New York, NY
The East Coast's largest pop culture convention, with major panels, artist alley, and cosplay showcases.
Anime USA 2026
Oct 9-11 · Washington, DC
A mid-size anime convention in the DC metro area, offering panels, cosplay, and Japanese cultural programming.
Tsubasacon 2026
Oct 9-11 · Charleston, WV
Sekaicon 2026
Oct 9-11 · Newark, OH
Start this build free
Clone this template into your workspace. Track materials, milestones, budget, and build progress in one place.
Related templates
Qifrey Cosplay
5 weeks · 12 milestones
Qifrey's elegant white-robed silhouette is built around three signature elements: the tall pointed hat with the bent tip and black ribbon, the flowing white cape with the brass brooch closure, and the asymmetrical pince-nez glasses with one dark lens hiding his scarred eye. This is an intermediate build that needs more structural crafting than sewing. The hat and glasses demand the most attention, while the cape is a manageable garment project. The glasses and the hat are the make-or-break details, and this template walks you through both. Includes 7 components, 15 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 5-week, $95 to $280 budget.
Coco Cosplay
6 weeks · 12 milestones
Witch Hat Atelier's apprentice witch in her full outfit: the tall pointed hat with ornamental band, a dark cloak with decorative hem trim, a layered tunic-dress, boots, and her drawing implements. The hat is the signature piece and the hardest to get right. 7 components, 13 materials, ~6 weeks at $120-280.
Sung Jinwoo Cosplay
7 weeks · 15 milestones
Solo Leveling's Shadow Monarch in his iconic default hunter outfit: a long black coat with purple inner lining, structured shoulder armor, fitted pants, and dual daggers. This is an intermediate hybrid build that combines garment sewing with foam armor crafting for the shoulder details, plus prop work for the daggers. The coat and its glowing purple lining are the make-or-break detail. Includes 7 components, 19 materials with cost estimates, a 15-step build plan, and a realistic 5-7 week, $120 to $320 budget.
Gojo Satoru Cosplay
5 weeks · 11 milestones
Jujutsu Kaisen's strongest sorcerer, built around three signature details: the black high-collar uniform jacket, the blindfold, and the white spiked hair. This is an intermediate build that leans on one well-made garment plus wig styling, so it reads instantly on the con floor without months of work. The collar and the wig are the make-or-break details, and this template walks you through both. Includes 6 components, 11 materials with cost estimates, an 11-step build plan, and a realistic 5-week, $90 to $240 budget.
Deadpool Suit Cosplay
5 weeks · 12 milestones
The Merc with a Mouth in full red and black: a head-to-toe spandex bodysuit with diamond-textured fabric, a face shell mask with white magnetic lenses, dual katanas on a concealed back harness, and a utility belt with pouches and holsters. An intermediate build that rewards patience with fit and details. Covers 7 components, 12 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan across 5 phases, and a 5-week timeline at $120 to $350.
Yuta Okkotsu Cosplay
6 weeks · 12 milestones
Jujutsu Kaisen 0's tragic sorcerer bound to Rika's curse: the black school uniform, textured black wig, cursed arm markings, and luminous katana. A balanced build across uniform tailoring, prop construction, and wig styling. 4 components, 11 materials, ~6 weeks, $120-280.
Captain America Cosplay
6 weeks · 12 milestones
The star-spangled Avenger in his Endgame suit: scaled chest armor over a tactical blue base, a white star emblem, red gauntlets and boot details, a foam cowl helmet with ear wings, and the iconic round shield. This is an intermediate build with repetitive detail work on the scales and some prop-making for the shield. Covers 7 components, 12 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step plan across 5 phases, and a realistic 6-week, $150 to $400 budget.
Arlecchino Cosplay
7 weeks · 17 milestones
Arlecchino (The Knave) is Genshin Impact's most cosplay-demanding Fatui Harbinger: a layered suit jacket, structured long coat with back chains, multi-color ombre wig, character-specific X-pupil contacts, and a full accessories set that runs 12+ pieces. This is an advanced build for cosplayers who can sew structured garments, handle prop accessories, and plan a full character makeup look. The make-or-break details are the coat's lapel structure and the wig's silver-black-red color work. Includes 8 components, 14 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 7-week, $180 to $420 budget.