✦ Free tool for artists ✦

Art Pricing Calculator

Compare the standard pricing methods working artists and galleries actually use, with commission math built in, and land on a number you can defend.

The work

Dimensions drive the two size-based methods.

Your market position

Sets the suggested per-square-inch rate. Adjust the slider if you know your number.

$2.00

Where it sells

Gallery commission gets built into the retail price. Your formula result is your take-home, not the wall price.

50%

Most galleries take 40–60%. 50% is the standard for two-dimensional work.

Label details (optional)

Fills in your wall label on the right.

Your Name

Untitled

18 × 24 in · canvas or panel

Suggested retail

$-

How to price your artwork

The four rules that keep pricing coherent as your work moves between studio, gallery, and website.

Square inch

(Width × Height) × your rate, plus materials. The industry-standard method for 2D work: it scales cleanly across sizes and keeps a body of work consistent.

Emerging artists typically land at $1–3 per square inch; rates climb with exhibitions, sales history, and reputation.

Linear inch

(Width + Height) × a linear rate, plus materials. Because dimensions are added instead of multiplied, small works don't come out absurdly cheap and large works don't balloon. Useful if you work across many formats.

Hourly + materials

(Hours × hourly rate) + materials. Guarantees you're paid for your time, which makes it a good floor, especially early on. But price the finished work, not the struggle: two same-size pieces from one body of work should carry the same price even if one took 10× longer.

Gallery commission

Galleries typically take 40–60% of the retail price, most often 50% for 2D work. Your formula result is your take-home, so the wall price must be grossed up. And it must be the same everywhere. Undercutting your gallery from your own website is the fastest way to end the relationship.

Consistency wins

Whatever number you land on: hold it. Same-size works from the same body of work get the same price. Raise prices in small, confident steps as work sells. Steady, defensible pricing is what builds collector trust.

Common questions

How much should I charge for my art?

Start with the square inch method: multiply your width by your height, then by a rate that matches your career stage, and add material costs. Emerging artists usually land between $1 and $3 per square inch. Then sanity-check that number against the hourly method and against what similar artists in your area charge.

Do I really have to double my price for a gallery?

More or less, yes. If a gallery takes 50% and you want $800 in your pocket, the wall price has to be $1,600. The mistake is treating your formula result as the retail price. It's your take-home, and the commission gets added on top.

Should works on paper cost less than paintings?

Usually. Prints, drawings, and watercolors typically sell for 20 to 50% less than a canvas of the same size by the same artist. This calculator applies a 30% adjustment when you select works on paper.

Can I charge less on my own website than in a gallery?

Don't. Collectors compare, galleries notice, and a lower price online tells buyers the gallery price is inflated. One price everywhere protects your gallery relationships and your credibility.