How much to charge for commissioned art
Rates reviewed June 2026
Commissioned art (custom portraits and paintings) is priced per piece by size and subject count, with a deposit up front. Custom work cannot be resold, and your style and following set the rate, so never price it like a commodity.
You should charge
$495
per piece · typical $150–$3,000
Why this number. Take a deposit before you start, because a custom portrait of someone's family cannot be sold to anyone else. Your style is the product, so let your following and your skill set the price rather than competing on cost.
Typical commissioned art prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small portrait | $150 – $500 |
| Large painting | $500 – $2,000 |
| Multi-subject / complex | $1,000 – $5,000 |
Free · The words, not just the number
Get the commissioned art pricing script
A short, calm script for quoting commissioned art in person. The goal is not to pitch. It is to ask a few good questions, say your number once without flinching, and let them talk themselves into yes.
- ✓The questions to ask before you ever name a price
- ✓How to say your number so it lands, then stay quiet
- ✓The line for when they say "that's too much" (no discounting)
- ✓A rate-increase template for clients you already have
- ✓Early access to the paid Pricing Toolkit
Instant unlock, and a copy in your inbox. No spam. The calculator stays free either way.
What changes the price
- Size and medium
- Complexity and number of subjects
- From reference vs. from life
- Framing
The pricing move most people miss
Take a deposit before you start, because a custom portrait of someone's family cannot be sold to anyone else. Your style is the product, so let your following and your skill set the price rather than competing on cost.
What to SayAI
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Get the reply →Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for commissioned art?+
Most commissioned art is priced $150–$3,000 per piece, with a typical rate around $500 per piece. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to size and medium and complexity and number of subjects. Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
What is the best way to price commissioned art?+
Most commissioned art is priced per piece, which is easy for clients to understand. Set a clear minimum so small jobs still cover your time and travel, and bundle add-ons into packages to lift the average ticket rather than discounting.
How much should I charge for commissioned art as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $150 to $500 per piece. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $3,000.
What affects how much commissioned art costs?+
The biggest factors are size and medium; complexity and number of subjects; from reference vs. from life; framing. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote commissioned art so the client says yes?+
Take a deposit before you start, because a custom portrait of someone's family cannot be sold to anyone else. Your style is the product, so let your following and your skill set the price rather than competing on cost. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.