Calculate art commission, hourly rate, or total time from the other two values to price artwork and plan commissions in hours and $/hr.
Art Commission Formula
The basic art commission formula is:
- AC = art commission price in dollars
- T = total time to make the art in hours
- R = hourly rate in dollars per hour
If you already know the commission price and hourly rate, you can solve for the time:
If you already know the commission price and the time spent, you can solve for the hourly rate:
Choose the value to solve for and enter the other two values. The result estimates labor only, before separately charged expenses, fees, taxes or usage rights. Enter total time and hourly rate to calculate the art commission. Enter commission price and hourly rate to estimate how many hours the work represents. Enter commission price and total time to find the effective hourly rate.
Illustrative Art Commission Pricing Ranges
These existing ranges are illustrative planning examples, not verified market-rate data or recommended prices. Actual pricing depends on the individual project and agreement.
| Experience level | Illustrative hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner or student | $10 to $25/hr | Example scope: practice commissions, simple work, or early portfolio building. |
| Intermediate artist | $25 to $60/hr | Example scope: work by an artist with past clients and an established style. |
| Experienced professional | $60 to $150+/hr | Example scope: commercial work or specialized styles; negotiate the actual fee. |
Illustrative Time Estimates by Commission Type
| Commission type | Illustrative time range | What affects the time |
|---|---|---|
| Simple sketch | 1 to 4 hours | Pose, number of characters, cleanup level. |
| Portrait or bust | 3 to 10 hours | Rendering style, likeness, lighting, accessories. |
| Full-body character | 6 to 20 hours | Costume detail, anatomy, props, pose complexity. |
| Detailed illustration | 15 to 60+ hours | Background, multiple figures, revisions, final polish. |
Example Art Commission Calculations
Example 1: Calculate the commission price
You estimate that a piece will take 12 hours and you want to charge $35 per hour.
The art commission price is $420.
Example 2: Calculate the hourly rate
You charged $300 for a commission and spent 8 hours on it.
Your effective hourly rate is $37.50/hr.
Art Commission Calculator FAQ
Should an art commission price include only drawing time?
No. The time value should include all work needed to complete the commission. That can include sketching, communication, reference review, revisions, file preparation, and final delivery. If you only enter the drawing time, the calculated commission may be lower than the real cost of the job.
How do revisions affect the commission price?
Revisions add time, so they increase the price if you are using an hourly method. A common approach is to include a small number of revisions in the base estimate and charge extra for additional changes. For example, if extra revisions add 2 hours and your rate is $40/hr, the added cost is $80.
What if the calculated price feels too high or too low?
Check both inputs. If the price feels too low, you may have underestimated the time or chosen an hourly rate that does not cover your skill, expenses, and communication time. If the price feels too high for the client, you can reduce the scope, simplify the background, limit revisions, or adjust the usage rights instead of lowering the rate without changing the work.
