One of the most common challenges for artists is determining how much to charge for a wall mural project. Developing a structure and a system will make it much easier for you.
But how do you develop a pricing structure for wall murals? Simple: follow the lead of many of the best muralists. Create a price sheet that lists a rate per square foot, as well as all possible additional charges.
How to create your price sheet:
1 – Determine a price per square foot that you will charge for most murals (Most artists charge between $ 30- $ 50 per square foot. You can charge at the higher end if you are experienced and in high demand. Lower end if you are new to wall painting).
2- Include additional charges that will be added to your price per square foot, such as:
- Add a design fee to design and draw the artwork (we charge $ 500 and it is non-refundable)
- Add an hourly charge if outside work is required to prepare a problem surface (we charge $ 95 / hour)
- Add $ 3 – $ 5 per square foot if the design requested by the client is of great complexity or difficulty.
3 – The price sheet should include a list of what your charges include (local area travel, attendant fees, all materials and scaffolding).
4 – The price sheet should include a list of what your charges do NOT include (trips outside the local area, insurance fees, sketches beyond the first 3 sets of changes).
5 – There should be a minimum charge for small murals. We charge a minimum of $ 5,600.00, even if the mural is very small. This is because the time required to paint a small mural is not much less than that of a larger one.
Once you’ve calculated your price, keep in mind that you can change it at any time. If you find that you are charging too little, increase your rate per square foot. If you find that your price is too high to keep you in business, cut your fees a bit.
When you have a price sheet on hand, it is much easier to have a professional conversation with a prospective customer. If they ask “How much do you charge for a wall mural?“You can confidently say, “The rate is $ 35.00 per square foot (or whatever your charge is) and I can send you a price sheet with additional details if you wish.“
For a sample mural price sheet, go to Pricing a Mural. You can copy and paste the price sheet into that post and enter your own numbers.
Keep in mind that your client will be happy that you have a written price sheet. This tells them that you are a professional and that will give them greater confidence in your work.
One last thought on wall mural price quotes – be sure to get a 50% deposit up front before purchasing the necessary materials. This requirement should also be printed on your price sheet.