How do I price my artwork fairly?

A fair price covers your material costs, labour at a reasonable hourly rate, framing, and a multiplier for your experience and reputation. Most artists undercharge at first — this calculator ensures you cover costs and value your time properly.

What experience multiplier should I use?

Beginners (1-2 years) typically use 1.5x, intermediate artists (3-5 years) use 2x, experienced artists (5-10 years) use 2.5x, established professionals use 3.5x, and renowned artists with gallery representation use 5x or more.

Should I include framing in my price?

If you sell framed work, include framing costs. Many galleries expect unframed work and handle framing themselves. For prints and works on paper, framing adds significant perceived value and is often worth including.

How does artwork size affect pricing?

Larger artworks cost more in materials and time. The price per square centimetre helps you maintain consistent pricing across different sizes. Gallery norms suggest pricing should scale with area, not linearly with dimension.

Should I charge differently for commissions?

Commissions typically carry a 20-50% premium over comparable gallery work because they involve client consultations, revisions and specific requirements. Use the Commission Calculator for detailed commission pricing.

ArtCalcs

Artwork Pricing Calculator — Fair Price for Your Art

Calculate a fair price for your artwork based on size, materials, time spent and experience level.

Artwork Width

Artwork Height

Material Cost

Canvas, paint, brushes etc.

Framing Cost

Leave 0 if selling unframed

Hours Spent

Hourly Rate

Experience Level

How We Calculate This

How Artwork Pricing Works

Base cost = Material cost + Labour cost + Framing cost

Labour cost is calculated as hours spent multiplied by your hourly rate. The base cost is then multiplied by an experience factor (1.5x to 5x) to arrive at a suggested selling price.

The suggested range gives you a minimum (experience multiplier) and maximum (1.4x the multiplier) to price within, depending on the market and context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Commission Calculator

Work out art commission pricing including complexity adjustments, revision fees, rush surcharges, licensing and deposit breakdowns.

Gallery Commission Calculator

Calculate your take-home amount after gallery commission, VAT and costs. Works for UK galleries with standard commission rates.

Material Cost Calculator

Track and total all material costs for an artwork or project. Includes canvas, paint, brushes, mediums and a waste allowance.

Hourly Rate Calculator

Calculate your effective hourly rate from artwork sales. See what you actually earn per hour after deducting materials and overheads.

Shipping Calculator

Estimate artwork packaging and shipping costs for UK and international delivery. Covers boxes, tubes, crates, insurance and handling.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.