Print price = (Production cost + Packaging + Shipping materials) × Markup multiplier + Your time allocation.
This article is part of our Complete Guide to Pricing Your Art — the definitive resource on art pricing.
Pricing original commissions is a different calculation — here's the commission formula.
Step 1: true per-print cost — printing, packaging, payment fees (~2.9% + $0.30). Example: 8×10 giclée = ~$10.60/print.
Step 2: 3× to 5× markup is standard. At 4×, the $10.60 print sells for ~$42.
Step 3: allocate something for the original artwork's creation time.
Editions
- Open editions = lowest price.
- Limited editions (signed/numbered) = 20–50% premium.
- Small runs = collector pricing. Never reprint a "limited" edition.
Wholesale
Standard is 50% of retail. Never accept terms leaving you under 2× production cost.
4 mistakes
- Pricing from competitors instead of costs
- Forgetting small costs ($3 mailer on $25 print = 12%)
- One price for all sizes
- Discounting prints to move inventory
The Art Print Pricing Guide ($12) has the full worksheets. Pair with the Pet Portrait Pricing Calculator ($19) for commissions. Sale: 25% off with code LAUNCH25 — ends October 21.
Frequently asked questions
How do you price art prints?
(Production cost + packaging + shipping materials) × 3–5 markup + time allocation. Example: a $10.60 true-cost 8×10" print at 4× markup sells for ~$42.
What's a good profit margin on art prints?
A 3× to 5× markup on production cost is the standard range. The multiplier covers the original artwork's creation time, marketing, slow months, and returns. A 2× markup is a hobby, not a business.
Should I sell open or limited edition prints?
Open editions (unlimited) are the volume play at lower prices. Limited editions (signed, numbered) command a 20–50% premium — but only if the limit is real. Never reprint a "limited" edition or you destroy the trust the premium was built on.
How does wholesale pricing work for prints?
Standard wholesale is 50% of retail. Work backward to make sure your margin survives: at $42 retail and $10.60 cost, wholesale at $21 leaves $10.40 per print. Never accept terms under 2× your production cost.