How much does it cost to start Warhammer? (an honest breakdown)
Starting Warhammer costs less than its reputation: one faction's starter box plus basic hobby supplies. Here's what you actually need to buy — and what you don't.
SprueSentry strategy commentary, not official rules. Games Workshop updates points and rules regularly — always confirm against the current official rules and your latest dataslate before a game.
"Warhammer is expensive" is the most repeated thing about the hobby, and it's only half true. The entry cost is modest and well-defined; the cost only grows if you let it. This is an honest breakdown of what you actually need to spend to start.
Exact prices shift with each edition and season, so use SprueSentry's live box pages for current numbers — this guide is about what to buy, not a fixed price list.
The honest answer
To start, you need three things: a single-faction starter box (a Combat Patrol in 40K or a Spearhead in Age of Sigmar), basic hobby tools (plastic glue and clippers), and the core rules (free to download). That's a playable army. Everything beyond that is optional and paced by you.
What you actually need to buy
- A starter army box — your biggest single purchase and the foundation of the army. See 40K boxes or Age of Sigmar boxes for live prices.
- Plastic glue + clippers — a few dollars, and you'll use them forever.
- Paints (optional to play) — a small Contrast-based starter set covers a starter box quickly; you can play grey plastic while you learn.
You do not need: the hardback rulebook (rules are free), a gaming table (kitchen table is fine), or terrain to begin (many stores provide it).
The ongoing cost (and how it grows)
The hobby costs more over time only if you add armies and kits. A sensible cadence — finish painting one box before buying the next — keeps spend low and your painting pile (your 'pile of shame') under control. Tournament players spend more; casual collectors can play for a long time on a single starter box plus a unit or two.
How to keep it cheap
- Buy sealed secondhand — often well under retail; SprueSentry tracks sealed listings next to new stock.
- Set price alerts and wait for dips instead of paying full price.
- Expand with a Battleforce, not individual kits — the seasonal bundles are the best value per model.
- Split boxes with a friend; share paints and tools.
- Don't over-buy — the cheapest army is the one you actually finish.
Is it worth it?
For most people, yes: it's a hobby that combines modelling, painting, and gaming, and the models hold value on the secondhand market surprisingly well. Start with one box, see if you enjoy the building and painting as much as the playing, and grow only if you do. The entry cost is small; the rest is up to you.
Common questions
How much does it cost to start Warhammer?
The entry cost is one faction's starter box (a Combat Patrol in 40K or Spearhead in Age of Sigmar) plus a few dollars of glue and clippers; the core rules are free. Exact box prices change each edition/season — check the live box page.
Do I need to buy paints to play?
No — you can play with unpainted (grey plastic) models while you learn. Paints are part of the hobby, and a small Contrast-based starter set covers a starter box quickly, but they're optional to get games in.
Why do people say Warhammer is expensive?
Because the cost grows if you keep buying armies and kits faster than you paint them. The entry cost is modest; the ongoing cost is entirely paced by you. Buying secondhand and expanding via seasonal Battleforce bundles keeps it cheap.
Do Warhammer models hold their value?
Sealed and well-painted models hold value on the secondhand market better than most hobbies' gear, which is why price-tracking (like SprueSentry) is useful both when buying and when selling.
Written by SprueSentry with SprueSentry editorial (hand-authored, research-grounded), grounded in the cited sources — original commentary, not Games Workshop rules text.