Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for generating a 3D avatar. The method, performed by the apparatus, includes performing a 3D scan of the body of a user using an image sensor and generating a 3D scan model using the result of the 3D scan of the body of the user, matching the 3D scan model and a previously stored template avatar, and generating a 3D avatar based on the result of matching the 3D scan model and the template avatar.