A basic closet cosplay costs $30–80. A sewn costume runs $100–300. A full EVA foam armor build typically costs $200–500 in materials. Complex multi-component builds with LEDs and 3D printing can exceed $800. Use the calculator above with your actual material choices for a realistic estimate.

Materials for a partial fursuit (head, paws, tail) cost $200–500 for faux fur, foam, adhesive, and eyes. A full digitigrade suit runs $500–1200 in materials alone. Commissioned fursuits range from $2,000–$8,000+ because of the 100+ hours of labor involved.

Start with fabric (typically 60–70% of cost), then add thread, interfacing, closures, and notions. A simple garment from quilting cotton costs $20–50. A lined wool jacket runs $80–200. Always add a 15–20% buffer for muslins, mistakes, and forgotten notions.

A High Grade snap-build costs $15–30 for the kit alone. A fully painted Master Grade runs $50–120 including primer, paints, panel liner, and topcoat. Custom painted Real Grades with weathering can run $80–150 in total materials.

A basic foam LARP kit (tunic, belt, one prop) costs $50–120. Leather armor runs $150–400 for vegetable-tanned leather, hardware, and dye. A complete character kit with layered garb, armor, and accessories typically costs $300–600.

Builders forget consumables (adhesive, sandpaper, primer), underestimate fabric yardage for pattern matching, and don't account for tool costs on first builds. This calculator includes a configurable safety buffer and a 'forgotten items' reminder to help prevent overruns.