Get 3D Models for Shopify Products: Scan, CAD, AI or Artist
There are four ways to get 3D models for Shopify products: scan the product with the free 3D scanner in the Shopify app on an iPhone Pro, ask the manufacturer for the CAD or 3D file it already has, generate a model with an app, or hire a 3D artist. Whatever the source, Shopify needs a GLB or USDZ file of up to 500 MB, and your theme has to support 3D media to show it.
Four ways to get a model
| Route | Cost | Best for | Weak spots |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify app 3D scanner | Free | Solid, matte objects larger than 8 cm on each side: shoes, bags, home goods, unglazed ceramics | Needs an iPhone Pro with iOS 17; shiny or reflective items may not scan well |
| Manufacturer’s CAD or 3D file | Ask the supplier; often already exists | Furniture, electronics, tools, anything designed in CAD | Needs converting to GLB, often simplifying, and textures added |
| Scanning or AI app | A monthly plan | Many products, regular new arrivals | Quality varies by product; check the output on your own items |
| 3D artist | Per model, quoted by the artist | Hero products, complex materials, configurable items | Cost and turnaround per product |
As an example of an app’s pricing unit, the Supra 3D Capture listing, read on October 31, 2026, showed a free plan with 1 saved model and 3 scans a month, Base at $14.99 a month (20 models, 15 scans) and Pro at $29.99 a month (100 models, 50 scans), with no reviews yet. Price grows with saved models and scans, so count your catalog before choosing a plan.
Scan with the Shopify app
Shopify’s Help Center page on adding media, read on October 23, 2026, confirms the 3D scanner is still in the Shopify mobile app on compatible iOS devices. Its launch post on the Shopify app 3D scanner (September 18, 2023, written for iPhone Pro models on iOS 17) describes the route that costs nothing:
- On an iPhone Pro running iOS 17 or later, open the Shopify app.
- Open the product, or create a new one.
- Tap Add media, then choose the 3D scanner.
- Follow the prompts to capture the object from every side.
- Review the model and add it to the product.
The tips from the same post decide whether the scan works: plenty of soft, even natural light; a background lighter than the product; room to move around it; 10 to 15 uninterrupted minutes; and more than one attempt. Shopify notes that shiny or reflective products may not scan well, so glass, chrome and gloss finishes may need CAD files or an artist. The object has to be larger than 8 cm in height, length and width.
Check before upload
Shopify’s product media page, read on October 23, 2026, sets the file rules: GLB or USDZ, up to 500 MB. Shopify converts every upload so both a GLB and a USDZ version exist, which covers Android and iPhone, and files over 15 MB are optimized automatically, with geometry and textures reduced while keeping the look.
Before you upload, check four things:
- Scale. The model must be the real size, or “view in your room” shows a sofa the size of a cushion.
- Texture and color. Compare the model with the product in daylight; a model in the wrong shade shows the customer a color you do not sell.
- File size. Smaller files load faster; let Shopify optimize large files, but start as small as the detail allows.
- The theme. 3D models play only in themes that support them; Shopify’s own Online Store 2.0 themes and the Horizon themes do.
Uploading and showing the model, and how AR placement works for shoppers, are covered in Shopify AR basics. For clothing, where a 3D model in the room is less useful than seeing it worn, see virtual try-on. Keep good photos alongside the model; the photo side is in product photography. Other catalog guides are in the running a store hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make 3D models with my phone? On an iPhone Pro with iOS 17 or later, the Shopify app has a free 3D scanner for objects larger than 8 cm on each side. Scanning apps from the App Store offer phone-based capture too, on their own plans.
Are AI 3D models good enough? It depends on the product. Simple, matte shapes are the easiest case for any capture method, and reflective, transparent or very detailed products are the hardest, so they may need a CAD file or an artist. Test an app on your three hardest products before you pay for a plan.
What file does Shopify need? Shopify accepts GLB or USDZ files up to 500 MB, creates the other format automatically for iPhone and Android, and optimizes files over 15 MB.