Why track material costs?

Knowing your material costs is essential for pricing artwork profitably. Many artists underestimate costs by forgetting consumables like mediums, solvents and replacement brushes. Tracking costs per piece helps set minimum prices.

What counts as material cost?

Include everything consumed to create the artwork: canvas or paper, paints, mediums, solvents, brushes (amortised over their lifespan), varnish, framing materials, fixatives, and any speciality items. Do not include studio overheads here.

Why add 10% for waste?

Paint left on the palette, canvas offcuts, failed starts, spilled medium and worn brushes all add up. A 10% waste allowance is conservative — some techniques like impasto may waste more.

How do I account for shared materials?

For supplies used across multiple works (like a tube of white paint), estimate the fraction used per piece. If a £10 tube lasts 5 paintings, allocate £2 per piece.

Should I include studio rent and utilities?

Studio overheads are separate from material costs. Include them in your hourly rate calculation instead. This calculator focuses purely on physical materials consumed per artwork or project.

ArtCalcs

Material Cost Calculator — Track Art Supply Spending

Track and total all material costs for an artwork or project.

Canvas / Surface

Paint / Pigment

Brushes / Tools

Mediums / Solvents

Framing Materials

Other Supplies

Number of Artworks

Divide costs across multiple works in a series

How We Calculate This

How Material Cost Tracking Works

Total = (All material costs) + 10% waste allowance

Enter the cost of each material category used. The calculator adds a 10% waste allowance and divides by the number of artworks if working on a series.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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