The honest answer
For a single static architectural rendering, expect 5-10 business days across the industry. At Arktek 3D, standard static renderings deliver in 2-3 days – and knowing why that difference exists matters more than the number itself.
If a studio quotes you three weeks for a single exterior still, they are either capacity constrained or amortising a slow internal process. Neither is a quality signal.
Turnaround by deliverable
| Deliverable | Typical timeline | Arktek standard |
|---|---|---|
| Interior still | 5-7 business days | 2-3 days |
| Exterior still (daylight) | 7-10 business days | 2-3 days |
| Exterior twilight hero | 7-10 business days | 7-10 days |
| Aerial with site context | 7-10 business days | 7-10 days |
| Walkthrough animation (30-90 sec) | 3-5 weeks | 3-5 weeks |
| Full pre-leasing package | 4-6 weeks | 4-6 weeks |
| Hotel launch package | 5-8 weeks | 5-8 weeks |
Prices by deliverable are in our 2026 cost guide.
What actually determines the timeline
1. Input quality
A coordinated Revit model moves straight into production. Hand sketches require interpretation and design decisions to be locked during briefing – which is fine, but it adds a day.
2. Number of images
This is the biggest lever most clients miss. Once a scene is modelled and lit, additional camera angles within it cost 30-50% of the first and take far less time. Twelve images from four scenes is dramatically faster per-image than twelve images from twelve scenes.
3. Scene complexity
A furniture-dense penthouse with custom millwork takes longer than an empty unit. Detailed landscape and accurate urban context add modelling time that is invisible in the final image but real in production.
4. Time of day
Daylight is fastest. Twilight, blue hour and complex mixed interior lighting take longer to build and render – typically adding 15-30% to cost and 2-3 days to schedule.
5. Revision rounds
Revisions turn in 24-48 hours. Two rounds of revisions extend a project by up to a week in total, which is why the briefing stage matters more than most clients expect.
When rush delivery is worth it
48-hour delivery is available when scheduled in advance, at a premium that typically runs 25-100% depending on scope. It makes sense in specific situations:
- A capital call or lender meeting moved forward unexpectedly
- A planning or DRB submittal deadline is fixed by the board calendar
- A competitor launched first in the same submarket and you need to respond
- A press or awards deadline requires imagery within the week
It rarely makes sense as a planning habit. Rush pricing exists because it displaces other projects in the schedule, so it is best reserved for genuine deadlines rather than late starts.
A realistic schedule for a development launch
| Week | What happens |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Briefing call, camera angles locked, base model built and approved |
| Week 2 | Materials and lighting built; clay and material-only passes reviewed |
| Weeks 3-4 | Full-resolution first drafts delivered; revision rounds turn in 24-48 hours |
| Weeks 5-6 | Animation production and final delivery in every requested format |
For a 10-14 image pre-leasing package plus animation, that is the honest answer: four to six weeks from kickoff, with most of the visible progress happening in weeks one and three.
How to compress the schedule without paying rush rates
- Send drawings before the kickoff call, not during it
- Lock the design decisions that will appear in frame – massing, materials, façade depth
- Give complete elevations and sections, not plans alone
- Approve the base model quickly; that single checkpoint protects the whole timeline
- State every format requirement at briefing – vertical crops, alpha-channel PNGs, print-scale TIFFs, CMYK
- Batch feedback rather than sending revisions piecemeal over several days
Ask us
Send your drawings and ideal delivery date to info@arktek3d.com or call 904-377-7088. We will confirm a realistic timeline in the quote, and tell you honestly if a date is not achievable rather than promising it and slipping.
See our architectural visualization services, animation services, or how the rendering workflow runs.