A sale price is not what an artist earns. This calculator takes off the gallery or platform commission and your costs, and shows your take-home amount, your real hourly rate and the price you would need to charge to reach a target rate.
Artist earnings
How it works
Commission is the sale price × the commission rate. What you receive is the sale price minus commission. Profit is what you receive minus materials, framing and other costs. If you enter a tax rate, tax is applied to a positive profit.
Your hourly rate is take-home ÷ hours spent. The suggested price works backwards: (target rate × hours, grossed up for tax, plus costs) ÷ (1 − commission rate).
Worked example
The example uses rupees, but the maths is the same in any currency. Choose yours in the calculator above.
A painting sells for ₹20,000 with 40% commission. The artist receives ₹12,000. After ₹2,500 of costs, the take-home is ₹9,500. For 20 hours of work, that is ₹475 an hour, and the artist keeps 47.5% of the sale price.
Good to know
- Commission is usually taken on the full sale price, but agreements differ. Some galleries share framing or shipping costs.
- The tax line is a simple estimate. Your actual tax depends on your total income and local rules.
- Hours should include everything the work takes: sketches, painting, photography and listing.
Frequently asked questions
How much commission do galleries take?
It varies by gallery, country and agreement. Read your contract, and enter the actual rate here.
Why is my hourly rate so low?
Commission and costs come out first. The calculator shows the price that would reach a target hourly rate, which can help when you set prices.
Should I include unsold work in my costs?
This calculator looks at one sale. For your whole practice, you might spread the cost of unsold work across the pieces that sell.