Waiting on construction is one of the slowest parts of an early Stellaris game. The instant_build command removes build time entirely: with it on, everything you queue — buildings, districts, ships, starbases, megastructures and upgrades — finishes immediately. First, open the command console (~).
Turn on instant build
Type the command once to enable instant construction:
It's a toggle — run it again to switch back to normal build times. See the instant_build command page for details.
What it affects
- Buildings and districts on your planets
- Ships and stations in the construction queue
- Starbase modules, buildings and upgrades
- Megastructures and their build stages
Important: it doesn't remove costs
instant_build only removes the time. You still pay the normal minerals, alloys and other resources. To also cover the materials, pair it with the resource cheats: add minerals, alloys and more or top up energy credits.
Tips
- Leaving instant build on for a whole game can trivialise the economy — many players toggle it on, clear a queue, then toggle it back off.
- Cheats disable achievements for the session and don't work in Ironman.
Frequently asked questions
What does instant_build do in Stellaris?
It toggles instant construction: while it's on, buildings, districts, ships, starbases, megastructures and upgrades complete the moment you queue them, ignoring build time.
How do you turn instant_build off?
instant_build is a toggle — run the command a second time to switch instant construction back off and return to normal build times.
Does instant_build also remove the resource cost?
No. It removes the time only; you still pay the normal mineral, alloy and other costs. Use the resource and cash commands if you also want the materials.