How Much to Charge for Pet Portraits (2026): A Pricing Guide for US Artists

Based in the UK? Read our UK version of this guide with prices in pounds.

A pet portrait might use $10 of paper and pencils, but you're really selling 10, 15 or 20 hours of skilled work. Add the messages with the client, packaging and shipping on top. Artists who set prices by browsing the cheapest listings on Etsy or Facebook almost always end up earning far less than minimum wage.

What US Pet Portrait Artists Charge in 2026

Published price lists from US artists vary widely. For a single pet on a simple background, unframed, typical ranges are:

Size and medium	Typical price
Digital portrait (head only)	$60–$150
8x10 graphite pencil	$115–$220
11x14 graphite pencil	$150–$275
8x10 painting	$120–$300+
11x14 painting	$230–$450+

Established artists with waiting lists charge well above these ranges. Newer artists are often below them, usually because they're undercharging.

Build Your Price From Your Hours

1. Time a few commissions start to finish, including client messages, choosing the photo, sketching, rendering, revisions, photographing the finished piece and shipping.
2. Pick an hourly rate you can live on. Even at $20 an hour, a 15-hour portrait needs to be $300 before materials.
3. Add costs: paper or canvas, pencils or paints, fixative or varnish, rigid mailers, insured shipping, and marketplace and payment fees (often 10% or more).
4. Add a margin, then set fixed prices for each size. Bigger pieces take disproportionately longer, so don't just double your smaller price.

Extras to Charge For

• Additional pets: commonly $25–$75 or more per extra animal, depending on size and detail
• Full body instead of head and shoulders
• Detailed backgrounds, quoted individually
• Rush orders before holidays and for memorial portraits
• Framing, prints and digital files
• Commercial use: if a business wants to print your portrait on merchandise, charge a separate licensing fee

Deposits and Terms

Take a deposit before you start. Many artists ask for 50% on larger commissions and full payment upfront on smaller ones. State in writing how many revisions are included, your turnaround time, what happens if the reference photo isn't usable, and that the balance is due before shipping. Publish a holiday order cutoff date early, because the weeks before Christmas are the busiest of the year for most pet portrait artists.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I charge for a pet portrait?

Multiply the hours a portrait takes by your hourly rate, then add materials, shipping and selling fees, plus a margin. In the US, 8x10 pencil pet portraits commonly sell for about $115–$220, and 11x14 for $150–$275.

How much extra for a second pet in a portrait?

Many US artists charge $25–$75 or more per additional pet, depending on the size and detail of the piece. Base it on the extra hours the second animal adds.

Should I take a deposit for pet portrait commissions?

Yes. A common approach is 50% upfront for larger commissions and full payment upfront for small ones, with the deposit non-refundable once work has started.