Hey everyone, I was thinking of starting commission work, but I’m struggling to figure out the right prices I should set for my art. For the people who do commission work, how much do you charge?
1 Like
Here is what I do to determine my price chart.
- how many artworks I can do per month.
- how much money I expect per month including expenses.
- how many hours I intend to work per day
Now suppose I want a 20000 (indian rupee, you take whatever is your currency) per month and I work 8 hrs a day with sundays being holiday. For 26 days it would be around 100 rupees per hour.
Now that I have my per hour cost I can estimate how much an artwork would cost. For example if I can do a portrait in 12 hrs I can charge a minimum of 1200 for it. I say minimum because you need to account for changes and other unforeseen scenarios like less work during some time etc. So charge or three times the minimum accordingly. Some times people need something urgently so increase the cost at such times.
I would also like to do research the cost of commission from other artists in my area or field of interest. Then adjust the price to match it a bit if it is too low then target a different area or place.
4 Likes
Also remember to add this clause in contract (I recommend you have a commission contract in case)
clause: commission prices are usually for the individual use. Not for commercial use. If you plan on doing commercial use we need to discuss this in detail in via Email Etc…
4 Likes
I don’t know if this happens in other countries: there are clients who ask for art, you make it the same as he asked and, when you deliver it, they look at it and say: “Oh, it wasn’t what I imagined”.
Or, worse: you deliver the art as they asked… and they ask you to completely redo it (and for no extra charge).
At these times, it helps to keep everything that was agreed with the client, in writing, so that he doesn’t claim that “he asked for one thing and you did another”.
4 Likes
One of my old art professor advice on that would be to give the client 3 redo’s (Though that is bit too
soft in my opinion, your better off just doing 1 free redo) of the art work for free but anything after that, the artist should charge the client, by the hour at triple of the commission price.
If you don’t, it could set a negative precedent and you losing both time and money in the long run.
Though it one thing to discuss what client wants and not want in the illustration during the draft stage. It a whole another thing, to deliver an completed illustration and they want you to redo the whole thing.
add this clause to the contract as well-
clause: If your unhappy the artwork/illustration at the final/delivery stage. I can give you one free redo, but after that I will be invoicing/charging you ____ price by the hour of me fixing/redoing the artwork.
3 Likes
I too give 3 free changes not redo. Redo means change in brief and description which constitutes to new project and new pricing. Cancellation of project halfway through or on completion will be charged accordingly too. Honestly a written contract is the way to go for these sort of things.
5 Likes
I’m struggling to figure out the right prices I should set for my art.
The answer is “It really, really, really depends”
I personally charge about 55-65 USD per hour, and many of my commissions range from 200 to 1500 USD.
I have friends that charge upwards of $200/hr for a total of $5000 per singular picture.
I have friends that try to charge $10 an hour, and can’t find anyone to pay for them even for $50 pictures.
What you ‘should charge’ will naturally sort itself out if you follow these rules:
If you are overwhelmed with commissions, charge more.
If you are not getting enough commissions, charge less.
Your prices will naturally settle on what your artwork is worth to commissioners. It may not be a happy number.
People can talk all day about what you ‘should charge’ to ‘make it as an artist’ but the hard truth is a vast, vast majority of artists cannot and will not make a living off their art. Keep it as a hobby or side income until you’re very certain you can make your monthly goal.
7 Likes
Artist contracts, in the case of my country, are only made between large companies. Here, what is done is to keep the message exchanges between the client and the artist: they serve as proof of what was agreed.
2 Likes
Thanks so much for the feedback! I will definitely try this out 
1 Like
I will, thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it
Thanks so much, I found this very helpful ^^