Commissioning a portrait can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory. Prices range from the cost of a nice dinner to the price of a small car, and the spread can be baffling if you’ve never worked with an artist before. This guide unpacks the variables that drive portrait pricing, compares typical market segments, and uses real-world numbers from Turn Into Art’s published price list to give you concrete benchmarks.
1. Key Factors That Influence Portrait Pricing
| Factor | Why It Matters | Typical Impact on Price |
|---|---|---|
| Medium | Oil and acrylic require expensive pigments and longer drying times; graphite or digital involve fewer consumables. | Oil > Acrylic > Watercolor > Charcoal/Pencil > Digital Print1 |
| Size | Bigger canvases consume more materials and take longer to paint. | Non-linear: doubling the area can more than double the price |
| Number of Subjects | Each additional face or pet adds hours of drawing and glazing. | +US $30–$100 per subject is common |
| Complexity & Background | Detailed architecture or landscapes can add 30–50 % to labor. | Moderate to high |
| Artist Reputation | Established gallery artists charge a premium for scarcity and brand value. | Can multiply base price by 5–10× |
| Framing & Finish | Archival frames, museum glass, and UV varnish protect the piece. | US $30–$300 or more |
| Turnaround Time | Rush orders compress drying/curing stages. | 10–25 % surcharge |
Custom family portrait painting
2. Current Market Benchmarks
| Tier | Typical Client | Medium | Size Range | Price Band (1 person) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | Gifts, student commissions | Digital, pencil | 8×10″ – 11×14″ | US $50 – $300 |
| Mid-Market | Family keepsakes, pet portraits | Watercolor, acrylic | 11×14″ – 16×20″ | US $300 – $1,000 |
| Premium Studio | Wedding & memorial art | Oil on linen | 16×20″ – 30×40″ | US $1,000 – $5,000 |
| Master / Gallery | Corporate, museum donors | Oil, mixed media | 24×30″ – life size | US $5,000 – $50,000+ |
3. Real Numbers: Turn Into Art Pricing
Turn Into Art—one of the largest web-based portrait studios posts a transparent pricing grid. The table below shows the most-ordered sizes for one person in oil or acrylic, extracted from their official price sheet. Only 20 % is due up-front; the balance is paid after you approve a digital mock-up.
| Size (in) | Size (cm) | 20 % Deposit | Balance Due | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 × 10 | 20 × 25 | $19 | $95 | $114 |
| 11 × 14 | 27 × 35 | $27 | $135 | $162 |
| 12 × 16 | 30 × 40 | $33 | $165 | $198 |
| 16 × 20 | 40 × 50 | $47 | $235 | $282 |
| 18 × 24 | 45 × 60 | $53 | $265 | $318 |
| 24 × 30 | 60 × 75 | $67 | $335 | $402 |
| 30 × 40 | 75 × 100 | $99 | $495 | $594 |
Add-ons:
• Extra person or pet: + $30 each
• Framing: $24 – $59 for most mouldings
• Rush delivery (<14 days): inquire; typical premium 15–20 %
4. Hidden Costs to Check Before You Order
- Shipping & Insurance – Turn Into Art ships free worldwide, but other studios may add $50–$250.
- Customs Duties – Original art is duty-free entering the U.S., U.K., and EU (HS code 9701), but VAT may still apply.
- Revision Policy – Unlimited edits (as Turn Into Art offers) are not universal; some artists limit revisions to two rounds.
- Copyright & Reproduction – Commercial usage rights often add 10–50 % to the commission price.5
5. How to Budget for Your Portrait
Follow these steps to avoid surprise costs:
- Define the purpose (gift, heirloom, corporate).
- Choose the medium—oil lasts centuries, but graphite is budget-friendly.
- Count the faces realistically; squeezing five relatives into an 8×10 will hurt quality.
- Factor framing early; a $400 painting deserves UV-blocking glass.
- Plan for revisions; collect high-resolution source photos to minimize extra rounds.
A quick budgeting formula:
Total ≈ Base Price (size × subjects)
+ Framing
+ Shipping
+ Rush Premium
+ Licensing (if any)
6. Where to Start
If you’re looking for a balance of museum-grade materials, flexible payment, and predictable turnaround, explore Turn Into Art’s ordering flow. Their step-by-step system submit photos, approve a digital mock-up, then receive the hand-painted canvas makes commissioning a custom portrait as easy as ordering a print online.
7. Takeaways
- Small, single-subject portraits begin around US $100–$300.
- Each added subject typically adds $30–$100.
- Premium oil portraits in the 24×30″ range average $1,000–$3,000 in the broader market, but Turn Into Art currently lists them at $402.
- Always account for framing, rush fees, and usage rights.
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