New tariffs are set to hit miniatures, paints, board games, and supplies hard—here’s how they’re driving up tabletop gaming costs and making a mess of your hobby budget.
So, your minis and games are going to start costing more as early as this summer, according to the latest tariff news. Your paints? Up too. Dice, terrain, brushes—all creeping past what your wallet signed up for.
It’s not your friendly local gaming store (FLGS) raising prices just to mess with you. It’s tariffs. Big ones. As of April, new import taxes are slamming anything hobby-related that isn’t made stateside, and spoiler: most of it isn’t.
From miniatures and paints to 3D printing resin and specialty components, the entire tabletop gaming supply chain is catching shrapnel. If you thought $160 for a starter set was rough before, brace yourself—this could wreck budgets, stall projects, and put serious pressure on game stores trying to stay afloat.
Tariffs, Table Fees, and Tiny Soldiers:
Well, it finally happened. The global economy decided to stick its nose right into our hobby room and start knocking over paint pots.
On April 2, 2025, President Donald Trump announced a sweeping new set of tariffs, starting at 10% for most imported goods, with certain countries like China getting hit with a combined 54%. He’s calling it “Liberation Day.” For tabletop gaming fans, it feels more like a forced retreat.
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this is going to hurt. Whether you’re into wargaming, painting, or board games with more custom components than a spaceship model kit, get ready for price tags that sting more than a spilled bottle of Nuln Oil.
So, What’s Getting Hit?
Pretty much everything you love.
Miniatures? Many are made overseas, especially those slick PVC resin figures from Kickstarters galore. If they’re manufactured in China (which a lot are), the costs are about to shoot up like a poorly-aimed Ork rocket.
Even Games Workshop isn’t immune. While much of its core product line is made in the UK, some of its terrain and accessories are produced in China. Those will carry the full 54% markup before they even make it onto a shipping container.
Don’t think you’re safe if your collection is already massive. Those paints and tools on your hobby desk have international roots, too. Vallejo (Spain), The Army Painter (Denmark, who also has already been in the crosshairs over Greenland recently), and Citadel (UK) are all looking at higher costs to get their products through customs. Brushes, paint pots, primers—they’re all going to feel the pressure.
It’s Not Just About Imports
Sure, some folks might say, “No problem, I’ll just support American companies.” And yeah, it’s great to go local when you can. But here’s the catch: the infrastructure for mass production of hobby goods in the U.S. is more fantasy than fact.
There’s no big dice factory churning out specialty polyhedrals in Kansas. Injection molding? Not at the scale needed. Even 3D printing—everyone’s favorite workaround—isn’t a total escape hatch. Most resin is imported. Most printers are imported. Heck, even the replacement nozzles for your machine probably got here on a cargo ship from Shenzhen.
Magnets… How Do They Work (Now That They’re Being Suspended)?
Well, folks, China just pulled the plug on exporting rare earth magnets, and that’s bad news for anyone in the tabletop community who loves a good magnetized loadout. Whether you’re customizing your Space Marines’ weapon options or keeping your minis locked in place during transport, magnets have been the unsung heroes of hobby life. And now? They’re about to get pricey.
With exports suspended, companies like Magnet Baron, which rely on these rare earth materials, are going to feel the crunch, and guess who’s next in line? Yup, us. The humble hobbyists. Expect magnet prices to climb and availability to dip, which means magnetizing your army might go from “cool and convenient” to “budget-breaking luxury.”
So if you’ve been meaning to stock up, now might be the time before everything gets hit. In the meantime, start hoarding your magnets like they’re gold coins—or find a buddy who bulk ordered in 2023 and is now sitting on a dragon’s hoard of neodymium.
Local Game Stores Are in the Crosshairs
Now would be a really good time to show some love to your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS). These shops are about to take the squeeze from all sides—higher distributor costs, delayed restocks, thinner margins.
They’re not just retail spaces, either. They’re often the only place you can roll dice with other people in a chair that’s not your cat’s favorite napping spot.
If your local store runs a table fee, consider it your hobby subscription. If they offer monthly memberships, sign up. And when you buy stuff, grab something other than snacks or the occasional pot of paint. A new kit, a rulebook, that terrain piece you’ve been eyeing—these are what keep the lights on and our hobby alive.
The Board Game Industry Is Sweating Tariffs Too
Steve Jackson Games laid it out plain: the costs are brutal. A game that used to cost $3 to make in China now costs $4.62 before it even leaves the port. By the time it lands on a shelf, that $25 game has morphed into a $40 one. That’s not greed. That’s math.
And it’s not just about higher prices—it’s about projects that won’t happen at all. Smaller publishers may cancel games mid-production. Others might simplify their designs just to stay afloat. Some might shut down entirely. It’s a chain reaction, and the links are looking wobbly.
What Can You Actually Do?
Glad you asked.
- Support your local game store – Table fees, memberships, and actual purchases. They need you now more than ever.
- Buy ahead when you can – Prices will go up. Stocking up now (within reason, let’s not hoard like it’s toilet paper in 2020) might save you some cash.
- Keep an eye on crowdfunding updates – Projects with overseas manufacturing are likely going to announce delays or price hikes.
- Talk to your representatives – No, seriously. If this affects your hobby and local businesses, say something. Silence helps nobody.
Final Word on Miniatures, Games, Hobby Supplies, & Tariffs
Tariffs may have noble intentions, but without a solid plan to build up domestic alternatives, they’re just adding extra weight to an already fragile industry. The tabletop gaming scene has weathered a lot—COVID, shipping crises, supply shortages. This is just another challenge. A rough one, sure, but not insurmountable.
Keep painting. Keep playing. Keep showing up. And maybe bring a snack to share.
Beat The Tariffs For Your Favorite Games
Will the tariffs make you take a step back from buying miniatures or new board games products for a while?
