A video tour attracts buyers, a 360° tour lets interested buyers look around every room, and a 3D tour adds a dollhouse model and measurements for buyers who want detail. Most listings benefit from a short video plus a 360° tour. A full 3D scan is worth it for large, high-value or complex homes.
The three formats side by side
| Video tour | 360° tour | 3D tour (for example Matterport) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the buyer does | Watches | Looks around from set points and moves room to room | Walks through, sees a dollhouse and floor plan, can measure |
| Where it works best | Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, portals | Portals, your website, follow-up after enquiries | Portals, high-value listings, remote buyers |
| Typical cost | $300–$600 filmed, a few dollars from photos with AI | $100–$500 from a photographer, little or nothing DIY | About $150–$1,000 plus hosting |
| Time to make | Minutes (AI) to days (filmed) | 15–60 minutes on site | 1–3 hours on site plus processing |
| Equipment | Phone or none (AI) | Phone or 360° camera | Specialist 3D camera |
| Shows the layout | Partly | Yes, with a floor plan | Yes, with measurements |
| Shares on social | Very well | Link only | Link only |
Costs are 2026 ranges from published price guides. See listing video costs and 360° tour costs.
When a video tour is the right choice
Choose video when you need reach. A 20-second reel is the format people actually scroll past, share and save. It sells the feeling of a home and gets enquiries. It is weaker at answering detailed questions about layout, because the camera decides what the viewer sees.
When a 360° tour is the right choice
Choose a 360° tour for buyers who are already interested. They can look at the corners, the ceiling and the view from the window, and decide whether to book a viewing. That saves time for both sides and helps buyers who cannot visit easily. With floor-plan navigation, a 360° tour shows the layout almost as well as a 3D scan for most homes. See floor plan navigation for tours.
When a 3D tour is worth it
Choose a 3D scan when measurements and structure matter: large homes, unusual layouts, renovations, commercial space and buyers buying unseen from abroad. The dollhouse view and measurement tools add confidence, and the extra cost is small next to the price of the property.
What do buyers’ agents say?
In NAR’s 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 48% of buyers’ agents said videos were important to their clients and 43% said the same of virtual tours. A third rated tours and videos as equally important. In other words, buyers value both, which is why using the two together works.
A simple combination for most listings
- Video for attention: a 15–30 second reel made from the listing photos, posted on social media and added to the portal listing.
- 360° tour for consideration: linked from the listing and the reel’s caption, so interested buyers can explore.
- One property page: photos, video, tour and floor plan in one place to share or embed.
Splatr makes all three from the same shoot: a video from your photos, a 360° tour from four phone photos per room, and a branded property page. See it on the Virtual Studio page.
Quick answers
Is a 360° tour the same as a 3D tour?
No. A 360° tour is a set of panoramic photos you look around in. A 3D tour is built from a scan and adds a dollhouse model, floor plan and measurements.
Is a video tour or virtual tour better?
Video is better for reaching new buyers on social media; a virtual tour is better for buyers who want to explore before a viewing. Use both if you can.
Do I need a special camera for a virtual tour?
Not for a 360° tour. You can make one with your phone. A 3D scan needs a dedicated camera or a scanning service.
Put the guide into practice.
Turn your own photos into edited images and videos in minutes.
7-day free trial.
