How to Price Art Commissions Without Losing Money

Most artists undercharge for commissions. Not because they don’t know their work has value, but because the structure of pricing isn’t always visible when you’re inside the work.

Start with the real cost, not a number that feels acceptable

Pricing a commission begins with understanding what it will actually cost you to deliver it: your time, your materials, any specialist support, travel, insurance, fabrication and installation.

Many artists price from instinct or precedent rather than calculation. The instinct is often shaped by what they think a client will accept, rather than what the project genuinely requires.

Include your time properly

Artist time is frequently the most underpriced element of a commission. A day rate is a useful baseline, but it should reflect what your time is actually worth, not what feels modest.

Include time for briefing calls, revisions, correspondence, site visits and any project administration that falls to you. These are real costs even when they don’t feel like work.

Build in contingency

Projects change. Briefs evolve, timelines shift, materials cost more than expected. A contingency of 15–20% on your estimated costs is not padding; it is responsible project management.

Know what the commission includes

A commission fee and a usage fee are different things. If the work is being used commercially, reproduced, or placed in a high-visibility context, the fee should reflect that. Rights are part of the value you are providing.

Artist Strategy Sessions are available for artists who want to work through pricing on a live commission before accepting an offer.