Art Pricing Calculator
Compare square-inch, linear-inch, and cost-plus art pricing, account for gallery commission, and calibrate rates from your own comparable sales.
This worksheet compares formulas using rates and costs supplied by the artist. It does not appraise an artwork or provide a market value.
16×20-inch pricing example
The example inputs are not recommended market rates. They demonstrate how the same artwork can produce different consistency checks.
| Method | Artist target | Grossed-up retail |
|---|---|---|
| 320 square inches × $2.50 + costs | $900.00 | $1,500.00 |
| 36 linear inches × $20 + costs | $820.00 | $1,366.67 |
| 12 hours × $30 + costs | $460.00 | $766.67 |
Art pricing formulas
Square-inch amount = width × height × your square-inch rate.
Linear-inch amount = (width + height) × your linear-inch rate.
Time-and-cost amount = labor hours × hourly rate + materials + allocated overhead.
Retail price after commission = artist target ÷ (1 − commission rate).
Calibrate a rate from comparable work
Start with what you actually retained from a comparable sale, subtract direct costs, then divide the remaining artwork amount by its square inches or linear inches. Use several representative sales rather than one unusual piece.
NYFA emphasizes peer research and career-stage comparisons. ArtBusiness treats labor and materials as a starting point that still needs a market check.
Art pricing questions
Can a formula determine what my artwork is worth?
No. A formula can create a consistent starting point, but comparable artists, sales history, medium, market, and buyer demand still affect an appropriate asking price.
How do I account for a gallery commission?
Divide the amount you want to retain by one minus the commission rate. If you want to retain $600 after a 40% commission, the grossed-up retail price is $1,000.
Which pricing method should I use?
Use the method that best matches your existing sales and practice. Square-inch pricing scales quickly with area, linear-inch pricing grows more gradually, and time-and-cost pricing protects measurable inputs.