How to Price Commission

Today we’re tackling a question that a fellow artist asked me the other day: how much do I charge for a commission?

Pricing your work can be tricky, especially when it comes to custom pieces. So I’ll share my own experiences and some practical tips to help you set the right price for your commissioned art. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your pricing strategy, reading through this will provide some insights to help you navigate the world of commissions.

Before setting a price, it’s important to understand the value of your work. This includes considering your experience, the quality of your art, and the time and materials required to create a piece. Take note of your past sales and your current demand. Considering all this will help you establish a fair price for your commissions. And then start by determining your base price for commissioned work. 

Hopefully, you’ve watched my video on pricing your artwork and you have a list of your standard art prices. But if you haven’t watched that video (and really you should go watch it next), you want to create a standard pricing structure based on the length times the width of your painting times a dollar amount. It’s a little more complicated than that - so really, just go watch that video.

When pricing commissions, you have the option of adding a commission fee to your base price. This fee accounts for the additional time and effort required to create a custom piece. Today I charge a 20% commission fee on top of my base price. This helps cover the extra time I spend on client consultations, mood boards, and revisions.

For example, if my base price for a piece is $1,000, I would add a 20% commission fee, making the total $1,200. 

I have found 20% to be a fairly standard commission fee, but know that your commission pricing can also be set depending on your goals. If you want to encourage more people to book commissions, you might choose to keep your commission fee lower. On the other hand, if you don’t love taking commissions, you might increase your commission fee to reflect that.

When I first started taking commissions, I didn’t charge any more for a commission than I did for the work available on my website. I simply wanted to book as many commissions as possible. But as my reputation grew and demand increased, I adjusted my commission pricing to reflect my experience and the value of my custom pieces.

A couple more notes on commissions - clear communication with your clients is essential when discussing commission pricing. Make sure they understand the breakdown of costs and what they’re paying for by providing a quote that includes the commissioned painting price and any additional costs such as taxes, shipping fees, or rush charges.

I always ensure that my clients know exactly what to expect by providing a clear quote and following up with a detailed contract. This transparency helps build trust and sets the stage for a positive experience.

Finally, remember that commission pricing isn’t static. Review and adjust your pricing regularly based on your experience, market demand, and feedback from clients. As you grow as an artist and your work becomes more sought after, you may find that your prices need to increase once a year or more.

All the best,

Jennifer