How much does illustration cost?
How much does illustration cost?
The average cost for illustration is $260. Hiring an illustrator, you will likely spend between $200 and $500. The price of illustration can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code).
$200 - $500 average cost
The average cost for illustration is $260. Hiring an illustrator, you will likely spend between $200 and $500. The price of illustration can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Average cost of an Illustrator
The average cost for illustration is $260. Hiring an illustrator, you will likely spend between $200 and $500. The price of illustration can vary greatly by region (and even by zip code).
When it is time to brand a business, service, or individual with an illustration service, the question of cost is on most people's minds. What does an illustrator charge for their services? Well, that depends on a few variables, such as the scope of the job, the usage rights of the illustration, and more.
Illustrators offer an array of services, including logo design, traditional or digital illustration services, business cards, custom letterhead, newsletter design, murals, drawings, paintings, and more. For any of these services, a business can expect to pay about $25 to $100 an hour. As a flat rate, nationwide, the cost of an illustration project is typically between $90 and $450, however, for more in-depth illustration jobs, a business or individual can expect to pay into the thousands.
The Difference Between Traditional and Digital Illustrations
Overall, the cost for traditional and digital illustration services is about the same. However, it can cost more for digital services due to the fact that the customer can request multiple revisions since this medium allows for quick and easy revision requests. The more revisions a customer makes, the more money the illustrator will charge for time spent making changes to the illustration job.
Scope of the Illustration Project
An experienced illustrator will be able to take a look at the project and give an estimate for the work that needs to be done and how much time it should take to complete. Consider the following examples:
A logo design will typically cost between $200 and $1000
A newsletter design will typically cost $1,000 and up
A corporate package is $250 and up (includes business cards, letterhead, etc.)
Promotional illustrations such as brochures can cost $1,500 and up.
Rush jobs, even if they are not that complex, usually cost more than a job that is given plenty of notice.
For other jobs, such as a painting or drawing for personal use, the illustrator will be able to give an estimate before the work is to be done.
What About Usage Rights?
There are two types of usage rights when it comes to illustration for hire. These are "rights managed" and "royalty-free". These two usage rights will affect the total cost of the project.
Rights Managed: This means that the client may use the illustration with restrictions. These specific restrictions typically include the length of time used to complete the project, what medium is used, the format, the location, and even the size of the illustration. This option is less expensive because the client does not have exclusive rights to the illustrations.
Royalty-Free: This means that the illustrator will charge the client a fee for the use and reuse of the illustration without limit while the illustrator has the rights to the project/images. When the royalty-free option is chosen, it typically costs anywhere from 20 to 50 percent more than rights-managed illustration work costs.
Are Revisions Allowed?
Before the illustrator begins work, he or she will let the client know how many revisions are available for the price paid. Typically, two revision requests are acceptable. After this, the illustrator may charge more for each revision request thereafter. When choosing the right illustrator to work with, it is important that they are upfront about costs and revision requests right from the start.