Commission Portrait Price: What You Really Pay for a Custom Portrait

When you hire an artist for a commission portrait price, the amount you pay for a custom-painted portrait based on your photo or sitting. Also known as custom portrait pricing, it’s not just about the size of the canvas—it’s about the artist’s skill, time, materials, and how much detail you want. Unlike buying a print off Etsy, a commissioned portrait is made just for you. That means every brushstroke is intentional, every shadow is hand-mixed, and the final piece becomes a one-of-a-kind heirloom.

So what drives the cost? The biggest factors are portrait painting cost, the total expense for a custom-painted portrait, including labor, materials, and artist expertise, the medium used (oil, acrylic, charcoal), the number of people in the portrait, and how detailed the background needs to be. A simple head-and-shoulders oil portrait by a mid-level artist might start around $300. Add a full-body pose, a detailed home interior, and two pets? That jumps to $1,200 or more. Top-tier artists with gallery representation can charge $3,000–$10,000, especially if they’re known for hyperrealism or have won awards. You’re not just paying for paint—you’re paying for years of training, a unique eye for likeness, and the time it takes to build layers and get the expression just right.

It’s also worth noting that portrait artist rates, the hourly or project-based fees charged by professional portrait painters vary wildly. Some artists charge by the hour ($50–$150/hour), others by the piece. A beginner might offer a $150 pencil sketch to build a portfolio. A seasoned artist with 15 years of commissions won’t work for less than $800—even for a small piece. And don’t forget the hidden costs: rush fees, travel for in-person sittings, or extra revisions. Most artists include two rounds of edits in their base price. Anything beyond that? That’s extra.

What you get for your money matters more than the number. A $500 portrait isn’t cheap, but if the artist captures your grandmother’s smile exactly as you remember it, that’s priceless. The best commissions don’t just look like the person—they feel like them. That’s why people spend thousands on portraits of loved ones, pets, or even themselves. It’s not decoration. It’s memory made permanent.

Below, you’ll find real breakdowns from artists who’ve painted hundreds of portraits. You’ll see what $400 buys versus $1,500, how materials affect price, and why some artists charge more for pets than people. No guesswork. Just clear, practical info to help you decide what’s worth it—and what’s not.