Hourly Rate Method
Best when people buy for your time and skill (commissioned pieces, detailed work).
Pricing Guide for Artists
Stop guessing prices.
Get an instant, fair starting price for every artwork.
There is no single right price, but there are fair, repeatable methods. Pick the method that matches your style and audience, run the calculator, and publish a price you can defend.
| Method | Formula |
|---|---|
| Hourly Rate Method | (Hourly Rate x Hours Spent) + Cost of Materials = Price |
| Square Inch/Cm Method | Width x Height x Price per Square Inch or Square Cm = Price |
| Retail Method (New Artists) | (2 x Cost of Materials) + (Hourly Wage x Hours Spent) = Price |
Square Inch/Cm Method
Best for 2D originals (paintings, drawings) where you want consistent pricing across sizes.
Retail Method (New Artists)
Great for beginners who want to land in a normal art-market range and avoid underpricing.
Hourly rate
- 10-20 EUR/h for beginners
- 30-60 EUR/h for established artists or specialists
If unsure, pick a rate that feels slightly uncomfortable but still fair. You can raise it later.
Cost of materials
- Canvas, paper, panels, brushes, paints, fixatives
- Shipping and packaging materials
- Framing or conservation time you do yourself
Reused materials are fine to estimate as a per-piece share.
Square-inch/cm rate
- 1-3 EUR per square inch for beginners
- 4-8 EUR per square inch for established artists
Start low, then raise slightly every 6 months as you sell more.
Step-by-step calculator
Price your artwork in under 60 seconds
Pick your method, enter your numbers, and get a realistic starting price plus a rounded listing price you can publish instantly.
Step 1 - Artwork type
Is this a painting?
Step 2 - Artist level
Are you a beginner, intermediate, or established artist?
Beginner mode nudges you toward safer floor pricing (Retail or lower rates) so you do not undercharge.
Step 3 - Method and inputs
Selected method: square
Is this price realistic?
Use these as sanity-check ranges. They are not hard rules, they help you avoid obvious underpricing or overpricing.
Originals (2D)
- Small (20x25 cm)150-400 EUR
- Medium (30x40 to 40x50 cm)400-1,200 EUR
- Large (50x70 cm+)1,200-3,000+ EUR
Prints / products
- 8x10 prints25-45 EUR
- 11x14 prints35-65 EUR
- 16x20 prints50-90 EUR
If your result is far below these ranges, raise hourly or square rates. If it is much higher, ask whether your demand and position justify premium pricing.
Use this for every upload
Apply the same framework whenever you add a new artwork so your catalog stays consistent and collectors know what to expect.
Raise prices over time
Every 6-12 months, increase hourly or square rates slightly. Older pieces then feel like a deal while new work gains value.
Artists like you
Many emerging artists start with the Retail Method, then switch to Hourly or Square once they have a few sales and stronger confidence in demand.
Advanced mode
Include overhead and profit margin if you want a business-grade price model.
Final Price = (Materials + Time + Overhead) x (1 + Profit Margin)
Example: if total cost is 200 EUR and margin is 30%, final price is 260 EUR.
Showcase your art in a way that reflects its value
Premium cinematic video reels often convert better than flat white-background product photos.
