Virtual staging is the digital furnishing of a photo of an empty or outdated room, so buyers can see how the space could look as a home. A designer places 3D furniture and decor into the photo with matching light, scale and shadows, and the finished image goes into the listing. At ArchiCGI virtual staging costs $299 to $224 per photo, depending on how many photos you order, and the images arrive in 48 hours.
Prices on this page were last checked in October 2026.
How virtual staging works
- Send photos of the rooms. High-resolution photos taken in daylight, from a corner at eye level, give the designer the most room to work with.
- Choose a style or share references, and the designers pick a style that suits the property when you leave it open.
- A designer builds the scene. Furniture and decor from a 3D library are placed in the photo, sized to the room and lit to match the light in the image.
- Review the images. Two rounds of changes are free, and you get a PDF specification of the furniture used in the project.
- Use the final images in the listing, on your website and on social media.
Types of virtual staging
| Type | What the designer does | Price per photo |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual staging | Furnishes a vacant room photo with furniture and decor | $350 (1-9 photos), $299 (10-35 photos), $259 (36-59), $224 (60+) |
| Virtual styling | Removes the old furniture and replaces it with new | Same as virtual staging |
| Virtual renovation | Changes finishes, repaints walls and adds new furniture to a shabby space | Same as virtual staging |
| Exterior renovation | Gives a facade and the outdoor area a makeover | $599 (10-35 photos), $459 (60+) |
| 360 view | Renovates a photo digitally and builds a 360 degree view | $432 (10-35 photos), $324 (60+) |
| 3D plan | Builds a photoreal 3D visual of a renovated space from a 2D plan or a photo | $432 (10-35 photos), $324 (60+) |
When virtual staging fits
- A vacant listing where empty rooms look small in photos.
- An occupied home with dated furniture, where the old pieces are removed digitally and new ones placed.
- A new building or a renovation still under construction, where the rooms are shown as they will look.
- Several listings at once, where moving physical furniture into each property costs time.
- A listing that needs exterior work shown, from a repainted facade to a new yard and patio.
What agents say about staging
The National Association of REALTORS 2025 Profile of Home Staging surveyed agents about staging in general, including virtual options. In it, 83% of buyers’ agents said staging made it easier for buyers to visualize a property as a future home. Those agents named the living room (37%), the primary bedroom (34%) and the kitchen (23%) as the most important rooms to stage.
Among sellers’ agents, 30% reported a slight decrease in time on the market for staged homes, and 19% reported offers 1% to 5% higher than for similar homes. The most commonly staged rooms were the living room (91%), the primary bedroom (83%) and the dining room (69%).
Starting with the living room, the primary bedroom and the kitchen covers the rooms agents rank highest. Source: NAR 2025 Profile of Home Staging.
Virtual staging compared with physical staging
| Virtual staging | Physical staging | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | The photos | The home itself |
| Furniture | Added in the photo from a 3D library, any style | Rented or brought into the home |
| Empty or unbuilt spaces | Works from photos or from a plan | Needs a finished, accessible home |
| Occupied homes | Old furniture is removed in the photo and new furniture added | Furniture is moved out and in |
| Several listings | Photos are sent as a batch and come back in 48 hours | Each property needs its own delivery and set-up |
| Showings | Buyers see the staged photos online and the real rooms in person | Buyers see the staged rooms in person |
| Cost | Per photo, from $224 at ArchiCGI | Median $1,500 with a staging service (NAR 2025) |
Label staged photos
Mark virtually staged photos as staged in the listing and, ideally, show the original photo next to them. Buyers know what they are looking at, and many MLS platforms require the label.
Virtual staging at ArchiCGI
- Delivery in 48 hours from the photos.
- Two free rounds of changes on any picture.
- A satisfaction guarantee with a refund if you are not happy with the result.
- Lighting, reflections, materials and proportions built in 3D, with furniture sized to the room.
- A PDF specification of the furniture used in the project.
- Unlimited online storage for your images in the ArchiCGI workspace and a project manager available in chat.
- Agencies and real estate photographers can order staging in batches and resell it under their own brand.
See what virtual staging costs for the price tiers and what they include.
Frequently Asked Questions
More on virtual staging and listing images
- Virtual staging cost lists the price tiers.
- Virtual staging: how it helps realtors sell more properties covers the four staging options for agents.
- Renderings for real estate agents covers listing images and tours.
- 3D floor plans show the layout of a property.
Jimmy Ward
Marketing Specialist, Media Buyer
Jimmy is a senior media and advertising specialist. He loves a good joke, his beloved dog Mario and craft beer. But don’t be fooled by his smile: Jimmy is ruthless when it comes to lead generation.
