Commissioned Portrait Cost: What to Expect and How to Budget

When planning a commissioned portrait cost, the total amount a client pays to have a portrait created by a professional artist. Also known as portrait commission price, it combines artist time, materials, and any extra requests you make. Understanding this helps you avoid surprise fees and get the piece you want.

The amount you pay depends heavily on the portrait artist, a professional who creates custom portraits on request. You’ll also hear the term custom portrait, a personalised artwork tailored to the client’s specifications, which covers everything from pose to background. If you prefer a lifelike result, the realistic portrait, a portrait style that aims to reproduce the subject’s appearance with high fidelity, usually carries a higher price tag. Commissioned portrait cost encompasses three main parts: the artist’s fee, the cost of the chosen medium, and adjustments for size or detail level.

Key Factors that Influence the Price

First, the artist’s experience matters. A seasoned portrait artist may charge $200‑$500 per hour, while emerging talent often works for $50‑$150 per hour. Second, the medium you pick—oil, acrylic, watercolor, or digital—adds a fixed cost. Oil paints and canvas can add $100‑$300, whereas digital files often stay under $100. Third, size is a straight multiplier: a 12×12 inch piece might start at $300, but a 24×36 inch canvas can easily top $1,200. Fourth, detail level—whether you want a simple headshot or a full‑body scene with background—adds labor hours, pushing the total up. Finally, extra services like rush delivery, framing, or multiple revisions each tack on a surcharge.

Putting those pieces together lets you build a realistic budget. Start by deciding on a medium and size, then ask the artist for a quoted hourly rate. Add a 10‑15% cushion for unexpected revisions. Many artists suggest a deposit of 30‑50% up front, with the balance due on completion. Look for clear contracts that list milestones, so you know exactly when each payment is due. Avoid red flags like vague timelines or open‑ended total costs—those usually hide extra fees later. By breaking down the cost structure, you can negotiate confidently, compare different artists, and choose the option that fits both your vision and wallet.

Now that you’ve got the basics of how commissioned portrait cost is built, the articles below will dive deeper into specific pricing examples, step‑by‑step guides for hiring a portrait artist, and tips for getting the most value out of your investment.