How much should I charge for hand painted murals?

Question

I am currently working on a project with a friend and several contractors are wanting to know what I would charge. The biggest hurdle is how much. And does anyone have any suggestions of how to accomplish tall murals. I have airbrushed in the past so I am a little rusty. I am tittering on if I should use acrylics and hand paint them or airbrush the majority of the larger objects. For this I will need a little practice. Does anyone have any suggestions to share?

Answer 1

You know how fast you can work? Make an estimate. Pay yourself an hourly fee of at least $25. Charge all new paints and take in account your equipment. Put this down as a $/sq ft price. Depending on what you paint on this price will differ.

Give your client an estimate based on your calculation. If scaffolding is needed be sure you tell this and put that down as an extra on your tab. Have a company place and remove that scaffolding, you are there to paint, not to mess with heavy stuff.

When the job is done you give them the end bill with your total. Put something on there that you do not charge anything for...say... weather seal, or some extra portrait. People love that.

Be sure you get receipt's for everything you buy for every job and be sure the people you buy it from know what you do, you can always get a discount if you are a professional that will return to buy lots more. You can either pocket the discount or put this on your end bill as a discount to your client.

Enjoy.

Answer 2

It really depends on several factors: a mural can be a simple design, or it can be very complex and detailed. I think you need to consider two factors: size and time (and maybe also materials). If I was painting a mural that was really complex, on a large wall (say something like 9' x 20'), I'd probably charge somewhere between $1000 and $3000, maybe even more. These are just suggestions, of course.

Answer 3

Well lets try the obvious.

If you are free to start a business,
That makes you a Capitalist.

You may charge what the market will bear.

Your biggest hurdle is whether what people will pay, is enough to cover your time and expenses.

Most painters of high things use scaffolds, hanging supports or poles with painting tools attached. Some vandals use paint ball guns.

People who paint portraits use brushes. People who paint vans, use airbrushes. The technique, of course,is at the artists discretion, but I'm guessing buildings fall into the 'van' category.

Slightly less obvious suggestion:

Paint a regular sized picture. Scan it. Use a laptop and video projector to put it on the side of the building.

Answer 4

Murals are expensive. Depending on your experience and/or degrees I would recommend $25-$65 per hour. Be sure the end result is going to last. Proper preparatory work will allow acrylics to last for along time.

Answer 5

Outside or inside would make a difference for me...

outside scaffling would be needed to do high areas
paint that would survive the elements would also be needed and maybe a varnish to seal it

inside walls or out side walls you could do a base with rollers and work off of that... fee would be discussed per project needing to know how big , where and subject matter and maybe a time frame of when it needs to be done by....fast /slow would matter I'd say start out with a base fee per hour and go form there to whats fair (not lower than $25 per hr as they are paying for your skill and training)

Answer 6

You have to determine your hourly wage and add materials.
If you have an established price history, go from there. If people want you to paint something ridiculous or if the materials aren't sound and you are having doubts, say no.

I don't paint murals - for anybody! :)

Answer 7

It depents on what you are painting and how long it takes you do the mural. Will you be buying the paint. How much is your time worth then you will know how much you should charge.

Answer 8

well depending how much you spent on it i will have to say 150 the lowest you can is 95