How to price an illustration commission (and put it in writing)

• 1. Start from your time, not from what others charge
• 2. Add a complexity multiplier
• 3. Charge separately for usage rights
• 4. Limit revisions
• 5. Take a deposit
• 6. Put it all in one proposal and contract

Pricing a commission is less about finding a “correct” number and more about making sure every hour, revision and usage right you give away is paid for. Here’s a simple method you can reuse for every client.

§1. Start from your time, not from what others charge

Estimate the hours for sketching, revisions, rendering and admin (emails, file prep, invoicing). Multiply by the hourly rate you need to cover your costs and the income you want. Comparing with other artists is useful as a sanity check, but their rate doesn’t know your speed, your overhead or your experience.

§2. Add a complexity multiplier

Backgrounds, extra characters, detailed props and tight deadlines all add work. Many artists list these as add-ons (for example “+ per extra character”, “+ full background”, “rush fee”) so the client can see where the price comes from instead of haggling over one big number.

§3. Charge separately for usage rights

Personal use (a print on someone’s wall, a profile picture) is not the same as commercial use (book covers, merch, ads). State the license in writing: who can use the image, for what, for how long and where. Commercial or exclusive rights should cost more, because the client earns money from your work.

§4. Limit revisions

Say how many revision rounds are included and at which stage (sketch, lineart, color). Changes after approval of a stage, or beyond the included rounds, are billed extra. This one line prevents most commission disputes.

§5. Take a deposit

A non-refundable deposit (commonly a share of the total, due before you start) protects you if the client disappears. Write down when the rest is due: on completion, before final files, or in milestones for large jobs.

§6. Put it all in one proposal and contract

Your price only protects you if it’s written down and agreed. A good commission agreement covers: scope and deliverables, price and add-ons, deposit and payment schedule, revisions, timeline, usage license, credit and portfolio rights, cancellation and refunds.

BidLogik turns these details into a ready-to-send proposal and an editable contract draft for creative freelancers, and the free plan includes 5 proposals a month with no card needed.

• Free illustration commission contract template: https://www.bidlogik.com/illustration-commission-contract?utm_source=nostr_longform&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=illustration-commission-pricing
• Commission price calculator: https://www.bidlogik.com/embed/commission-price-calculator?utm_source=nostr_longform&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=illustration-commission-pricing
• Plans and pricing: https://www.bidlogik.com/pricing?utm_source=nostr_longform&utm_medium=guide&utm_campaign=illustration-commission-pricing

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For high-value or unusual deals, have a lawyer in your country review the contract.