Pricing Your Work

The hardest part isn't math — it's believing your work has value

Most artists underprice. Especially at the start. It comes from a real place — uncertainty, imposter syndrome, not wanting to seem arrogant — but underpricing hurts you and it quietly devalues art made by people like you.

This guide gives you frameworks for pricing that are grounded in reality. Use them as a starting point, not a ceiling.

Pricing originals

For original one-of-a-kind work, the most common formula is:

Example: A painting that took 8 hours to make, with $30 in materials, at $25/hr:

(8 × $25) + $30 = $230

Also factor in:

• SizeLarger work generally commands higher prices. Some artists price by square inch — figure out your per-square-inch rate by dividing your target price by the dimensions.
• Complexity and detailA highly detailed piece at the same size as a looser one took more skill and time. Price accordingly.
• Your track recordA newer artist and an established artist with a collector following don't price the same way. That's okay. Start where you are and move up.

Pricing prints

Prints let you sell a piece multiple times — which is why they're priced lower than originals. A few principles:

• Prints should be significantly cheaper than the originalIf an original sells for $300, prints might be $30–60 depending on size and edition. The original is unique. The print isn't.
• Consider limited editionsA limited edition print (e.g., "1 of 50") is worth more than an open edition because scarcity is real. Number and sign your prints if you go this route.
• Factor in your print costsIf you're fulfilling prints yourself (printing at home or through a print shop), your cost per print affects your margin. Know what each print costs you before you set a price.
• Print-on-demand servicesPrintful, Printify, and similar services handle printing and shipping for you — you set a markup over their base cost. Less work, lower margin per sale.

What to charge as a beginner

If you're just starting out and have no sales history, it's tempting to price very low to "get some sales." Be careful with this — you can always raise prices, but it's psychologically hard for buyers to accept a jump from $20 to $200 on the same artist's work.

A more honest approach: price based on what your work actually costs you to make, then add a reasonable margin. If that price feels scary, sit with the discomfort for a moment before automatically discounting yourself.

When to raise your prices

• When you sell out quicklyIf pieces sell within days of listing, your price is probably too low. Demand exceeding supply is a signal to raise prices.
• When you get repeat buyersCollectors who come back for more work are telling you they see value. Honor that.
• When your skills growYou are not the same artist you were a year ago. Your prices don't have to be either.
• When your costs go upMaterials, shipping, platform fees — if your costs rise, your prices should too.

Raise prices gradually — 10–20% at a time — rather than all at once. And give your existing buyers a heads-up if you have a relationship with them. It builds trust.

One more thing: don't negotiate against yourself

Set your price and hold it. If someone asks for a discount, it's okay to say no. "This piece is priced at $180 and that's where it needs to be" is a complete sentence.

You can offer a small discount for a returning buyer or for someone purchasing multiple pieces — that's different from reflexively discounting every time someone asks.