How Much Does a Commissioned Oil Portrait Cost in 2026
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The first question almost everyone asks when they write to me about a portrait for the first time is "how much does it cost?" It's a fair question. But there's no short answer, because the price depends on what you want to receive.
In this article I'll explain honestly what makes up the cost of an oil portrait, show the market ranges, and clarify the difference between a €50 "portrait" made from a photomontage and genuine painting for €500. And I'll tell you how to understand exactly what you're paying for.
What Determines the Price
Canvas size. This is the first factor. A 30×40 cm portrait requires less material, time, and effort than 60×80 cm. The price difference between the smallest and largest format is usually 3–4 times.
Number of people. One person in the portrait is the base price. Each additional person is a surcharge, because every face is a separate piece of work: composition, sketch, rendering. A couple doesn't cost twice as much as one person, but noticeably more.
Complexity of the composition. A bust portrait with a plain background is the base option. A full-length portrait with a detailed interior in the background is a completely different amount of work. Clothing, jewellery, props, a background plane — all of this adds time.
Composite portrait from different photos. If people need to be combined from several images (for example, relatives who were never photographed together), that's additional work: reconciling lighting and sizes, bringing everyone into one composition. Usually 20–30% is added to the base price.
Urgency. The standard turnaround for a portrait is 2–4 weeks. If you need it faster (physically no faster than 7–10 days), an express rate applies — usually +20–30%.
Shipping. International shipping of an oil painting requires professional packaging (a rigid box for stretched canvas) and is usually charged separately. Within the EU — €15–30, further afield — by tariff.
Market Ranges for 2026
Below are the average market prices for genuine hand-painted oil work (not photo print with gel on top). Ranges depend on the artist's experience, region, and complexity of the work.
One person, bust portrait:
- 30×40 cm: €180–450
- 40×50 cm: €250–600
- 60×80 cm: €450–1000
Couple (two people):
- 40×60 cm: €350–700
- 50×70 cm: €500–900
- 60×80 cm: €700–1300
Family portrait (3–4 people):
- From 60×80 cm and up: €700–1800+
- 30×40 cm: €150–350
- 40×50 cm: €250–500
These are guidelines. Prices depend heavily on the artist's experience (an art academy student vs an artist with 15+ exhibitions) and on the market (higher in Germany than in Eastern Europe).
My prices sit in the mid-range of the European market — not dumping, but not premium either. For a detailed price list for your case, write to me — I'll send it right away, no obligation.
Why a "€50 Oil Portrait" Is Suspicious
If you see ads for "oil portraits from €50," it's almost always one of two things:
Photo print with gel finishing. Your photo is printed on canvas with a digital printer, then the artist applies a gel on top to imitate brushstrokes. From a distance it looks like oil, but on close inspection the print is visible. Production cost is €10–20; the markup is what the artist charges for the surface finishing.
A beginner or student. Sometimes students or those just starting out lower the price significantly. The work can be sincere, but without experience it's often hard to capture the likeness well and work in the oil medium.
Genuine oil painting physically cannot cost €50 — the materials alone (good canvas, stretcher, professional paints, varnish) come to €30–50. Plus the artist spends 15–30 hours of work. The maths is simple: quality oil work starts from €150–200 for the smallest format.
What's Included in the Price of a Professional Portrait
When I quote a price for a portrait, it includes:
- Materials: linen canvas factory-stretched on a wooden stretcher, professional oil paints (Winsor & Newton, Schmincke Mussini or equivalent), protective varnish
- Work on the sketch: a digital composition mock-up, discussion with you, revisions
- Painting: layered application of oil with drying between layers
- Final varnish: protects the painting from UV, moisture, and dust for decades
- Packaging: a rigid box with cushioning for safe transport
- Guarantee: revisions at the sketch stage are free, questions after delivery are addressed
Charged separately: shipping (depends on country and size), framing (if you want it framed straight away — we'll discuss separately), urgency.
How My Pricing Works
I work in the mid-range European price segment. This lets me take on a commission and know that I have enough time not to rush, to use quality materials, and to bring the work to a state I'm satisfied with myself.
Too low a price always works against quality. Either the artist saves on time (faster means less detailed), or on materials (cheap paints fade in 5–10 years, cheap canvas cracks), or on professionalism (accepting a volume they can't do well).
Too high a price is usually about the name. Works by well-known artists sell for more not because they're technically better, but because the name adds value. For most clients (who want a portrait for themselves or as a gift), there's no need to overpay for a name.
I'm in the middle: quality materials, honest working time, a portfolio of real commissions and exhibitions, a reasonable price. For the exact amount for your case, write to me — we'll discuss the format and I'll give you a figure.
FAQ — Questions About Price
Why does the price vary so much between artists for the same size?
Experience, materials, reputation, region. An artist with academic training and ten years' experience charges more than a self-taught one with two years' practice. That doesn't mean the second work is bad — it means a different level of quality assurance.
Can I get a discount for a larger order (several portraits)?
Yes, if you order 2–3 portraits at once, I can offer a package price. Write to me about your case — we'll discuss it.
Is there an instalment option?
Standard: a 30–50% deposit at the start, the balance after approval of the finished work (before varnish). For large orders I can split it into three parts.
How do I check that I'm paying for genuine painting and not a print with gel?
Ask for photos and videos of the process at different stages: underpainting, mid-layers, finish. Genuine painting has a visible structure of brushstrokes not only on top but also in the underpainting. I always send such videos during the work — it's my standard of transparency.
What if I don't like the finished work?
At the sketch stage, revisions are free and unlimited. After oil is applied, major changes are physically difficult, which is why I always get full approval of the sketch before starting. If there are comments about details after delivery — we'll discuss what can be corrected.
How to Find Out the Exact Price for Your Case
Please send:
- A photograph (or several) with the people you want in the portrait
- The desired size (if you haven't decided — I'll advise on the best one)
- The deadline (if there's a date to work to)
I'll reply within a day with the exact price and timeline. No obligation — it's a free consultation.
The cost of an oil portrait is an investment in something that will stay in your home for decades. The difference between a €50 photomontage and €500 of genuine painting is the difference between a picture and a work of art. The choice depends on what you truly need.
Would you like to know the exact price for your portrait? Write to me or use the order form. Send a photo — I'll reply with the price and timeline within a day. The first consultation is free.