6 Aug 2026
Tips & Insights
3D Model Market Trends 2026 is the flagship report in this year's roundup of CGTrader research – six 2026 studies that look both inward, at the marketplace itself, and outward, at the people who make up its audience: the designers, hobbyists, gamers, and makers shaping how 3D content gets bought, sold, and used. Below, we start with that market trends report, then move through five consumer surveys on everything from household gadgets to side hustles. Here's what we found, and where to read the full data behind each one.
3D Model Market Trends 2026: What the Data Says
Our flagship report for the year looks at twelve months of marketplace data (June 2025 – May 2026) and finds an industry getting more competitive, not less. Supply grew roughly 3.6× faster than demand, which is good news for buyers but a harder floor for sellers who rely on volume alone. Quality is what still separates winners from the pack: top-rated models earn about 7× more revenue than mid-tier work, and the highest-rated 10% of listings still command roughly two-thirds of all CG revenue – virtually unchanged from last year. On the format side, real-time-ready files like USD/USDZ and Unreal Engine assets are growing 40-48% faster than the market baseline, while AI-generated uploads make up about 1 in 6 files but only 1 in 90 revenue dollars – a sign that buyers are still cautious about AI output quality.
Read the full 3D Model Market Trends 2026 report →
Beyond the marketplace itself, we also wanted to understand the people behind it – how they spend, create, compete, and unwind in their everyday lives. So this year we ran five consumer surveys. Here's what stood out.
The Most Beloved (and Most Overrated) Household Items
We surveyed over 1,500 Americans about the home gadgets they actually love – and the ones they think are overhyped. Air fryers came out on top, with 70% calling them a game changer, while Roombas topped the "biggest time-saver" list even though they were also voted one of the most overrated purchases. Nearly half of respondents said they wait for prices to drop before adopting new household tech, and when asked about 3D printing at home, 46% said they'd use it for repair and replacement parts – a small but telling signal of where consumer 3D printing demand could head next.
Read the full household items study →
The True Cost of Expensive Hobbies in America
Hobbies aren't cheap. Our research found the average American spends about $94 a month – over $1,000 a year – and around 7 hours a week on their hobby of choice. Rising costs are taking a toll: 41% have had to cut back on a hobby because of expenses, and 34% have given one up entirely. The study broke costs down state by state, turning a personal-finance question into local news – and local radio stations across Colorado and Kentucky picked it up.
Read the full hobbies cost study →
Which Countries Have the Best Video Game Players
Using gameplay data from 59,379 gamers across 129 countries and nearly 7,000 games, we built a talent index to see who actually plays best. The result: Romania, Chile, and Finland came out on top, with Romanian players averaging almost 10 completions each. New Zealand players finished games about 10% faster than the global average, and third- and first-person shooters turned out to be the most universally popular genres. This was the study that traveled the furthest beyond our own site – it was picked up and covered on YouTube, reaching gaming audiences directly.
Read the full video game players study →
The Most Popular Side Hustles in the U.S. Right Now
Search data shows YouTube content creator and rideshare driver are the two most popular side hustles nationally, with roughly 30,700 and 29,600 monthly searches respectively. Podcasting ranked third overall but actually topped the list in 12 states across the South and Midwest, while personal training and yoga instruction rounded out the top five – a reminder that fitness-related side income is having a moment. This was our best-performing campaign for earned coverage, picked up by outlets including Inc.com alongside regional news and radio.
Read the full side hustles study →
The World's Most Confident DIYers
We surveyed DIY confidence across 19 countries and found Poland and Brazil lead the pack, scoring 98.62 and 91.78 out of 100. Rising costs are pushing more people to try fixing things themselves – 60% said higher prices have made them more likely to DIY instead of hiring a professional – but confidence has limits: 87% would still rather hire out electrical work, and 83% feel the same about roof repairs. The biggest psychological barrier isn't skill, it's fear of making things worse, cited by nearly 2 in 5 respondents.
Read the full DIY confidence study →
Why CGTrader Looks at Trends Like These
None of this research exists in a vacuum. The same instincts that make someone reach for an air fryer, budget for a hobby, or attempt a DIY repair themselves are the instincts that shape demand for 3D content – home goods, game assets, printable parts, and the tools people use to make things themselves. Reading the marketplace data in 3D Model Market Trends 2026 alongside what's happening in kitchens, garages, and living rooms gives designers a fuller picture of where demand for 3D content is headed next.
Keep Exploring
Want the full picture behind any of these numbers? Browse the studies above, or head to the CGTrader marketplace to see where 3D design meets real-world demand.
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