Free art pricing calculator
Rounded to the nearest $10. A starting point, not a rule: adjust for your market, sales history and where you sell. ArtistOS Pro suggests a price range from your medium, size and your own past sales.
Method 1: price per square inch
Formula: (width × height × rate) + materials. Example: an 18 × 24 inch painting is 432 square inches. At $4 per square inch that's $1,728; add $100 of materials counted twice ($200) and the price is about $1,930.
Typical starting rates: artists new to selling often begin around $1–2 per square inch; emerging artists with some sales history commonly sit around $2–4, and rates rise with demand, gallery representation and reputation.
The catch: square-inch pricing makes small works too cheap and very large works too expensive. Many gallerists recommend charging a higher rate per square inch for small pieces and a lower one for large pieces so your price list rises smoothly with size.
Method 2: price per linear inch
Formula: (width + height) × multiplier + materials. Example: a 24 × 36 inch piece is 60 linear inches; at a multiplier of 15, that's $900 before materials. Multipliers of roughly 10 to 25 are commonly cited for emerging and mid-career artists. The linear-inch method scales more gently than square inches, which is why many painters prefer it for work of very different sizes.
Rules that matter more than the formula
- Be consistent everywhere. Your price at an art fair, on your website and in a gallery should match. Collectors compare, and galleries expect it.
- Price the gallery commission in, not on top. If a gallery takes 50%, your retail price is the price; don't charge your studio buyers less than gallery buyers.
- Raise prices on evidence. Raise your rate when work sells steadily, you have a waitlist, or you add a significant show or representation. Never lower prices on work that has already sold.
- Keep a record. Pricing gets easier when you can see what sold, at what size and medium, and how fast. That's exactly what ArtistOS tracks.
How to price prints and editions
Price limited editions below the original and in relation to edition size, paper and process: smaller editions and hand-pulled processes (etching, lithography, screenprint) justify higher prices than large open-edition digital prints. Number and sign editions, and give each a certificate of authenticity.
How to price commissions
Start from your normal formula for the size and medium, then add for custom work: extra sketches or revisions, rush timelines, travel or site visits, and installation. Take a deposit (50% is common) before starting. See our commission contract template.
Sources
- Artwork Archive — How to price consistently for art sales success
- FoundMyself — How to price your art
- Pastel Society of Colorado — Pricing your artwork: the linear inch method (PDF)
- RedDotBlog — Ask a gallery owner: pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for my art as a beginner?
Many beginners start at about $1–2 per square inch (or a linear-inch multiplier near 10) plus materials, then raise the rate as work sells consistently. The key is using one consistent formula so your prices make sense to collectors.
What is the square inch method for pricing art?
Multiply the width by the height to get square inches, multiply by your dollar rate per square inch, then add the cost of materials (often doubled). An 18 × 24 inch piece at $3 per square inch is $1,296 plus materials.
What is the linear inch method for pricing art?
Add the width and height, then multiply by a multiplier, commonly between about 10 and 25 for emerging and mid-career artists, and add materials. A 24 × 36 inch piece at a multiplier of 15 is $900 plus materials.
Should my prices be the same in galleries and at art fairs?
Yes. Keep one retail price everywhere you sell. If a gallery takes a commission, that comes out of the retail price rather than being added on top.
When should I raise my art prices?
Raise prices when your work sells steadily, when you have a waitlist or more demand than supply, or after meaningful milestones like gallery representation. Raise gradually and never reduce prices on work that has already sold.
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