How to price commissions: A framework for custom work

Why commissions are usually underpriced

Commissioned work typically costs more to produce than equivalent non-commissioned work, yet most artists price it at the same rate or lower. The reasons are psychological: gratitude for the opportunity, anxiety about the client relationship, and the implicit assumption that the client is doing the artist a favour by ordering a specific work.

The reality is the opposite. A commission transfers creative risk from the artist to the client but simultaneously creates obligations, including client communication, revision rounds, delivery deadlines, and the uncertainty of working to someone else's specification, that a self-directed practice does not have. These obligations have value that must be reflected in the price.

The commission pricing formula

Base price: start with what an equivalent non-commissioned work would cost at your current pricing, same medium, similar scale.

Add a commission premium: typically 20 - 30% above the base price, reflecting the bespoke nature of the work, the communication overhead, and the creative risk of working to specification.

Add revision provisions: define clearly in writing how many rounds of changes are included in the price. One set of revisions at the sketch stage and one at near-completion is standard. Additional revisions beyond this should be priced at your hourly rate and agreed in advance.

Deposit: require a non-refundable deposit of 30 - 50% at contract signing. This covers materials, initial labour, and protects against the significant risk of client cancellation after work has begun.

The commission contract

Every commission must have a written contract before work begins. At minimum this should specify: the scope of the work (medium, dimensions, general description), the total price and payment schedule, the number of revisions included, the delivery date, what happens if either party cancels, who owns the copyright after delivery, and whether the artist retains the right to photograph and publish the work.

The copyright clause is particularly important. Unless you explicitly transfer copyright in writing, you retain it, but clients frequently assume that buying a commission means buying all rights. Make this explicit to avoid disputes later.