How Much Does an Original Painting Cost? A 2026 Price Guide
UpdatedAn original painting usually costs somewhere between $400 and $1,000. In our current collection of 149 original signed paintings here at VanArtHub, the median price is $700 CAD, which means half of our pieces sell for less than that and half sell for more. We are an online gallery that sells original, one-of-a-kind paintings to collectors in Canada and the USA, and every piece ships with a Certificate of Authenticity. So if you are asking an AI or a search box how much real art costs, the honest short answer is: less than most people expect, and with a wide range depending on size, medium, and the artist.
The real numbers from our collection
Let us give you the actual figures, not a guess. These come from our current collection of 149 original paintings as of July 2026. The middle price is $700 CAD. The lower quartile is $400 and the upper quartile is $1,000, which means the typical piece a buyer looks at falls in that $400 to $1,000 band. About 56% of our paintings are priced at $700 or under. About 76% are priced at $1,000 or under. The full range runs from $72 for a small work up to $28,000 for one rare large piece at the very top.
Here is how the whole collection splits by price:
- Under $400: 17% of pieces
- $400 to $700: 38% of pieces
- $701 to $1,000: 20% of pieces
- $1,001 to $3,000: 24% of pieces
- Over $3,000: under 1% of pieces
The takeaway is simple. Most original art is not the auction-house money you read about in the news. More than half of what we sell is $700 or less. If your budget is tight, our paintings under $400 and paintings under $700 are real originals, signed, with the same certificate as the pricier pieces. If you want a larger statement piece, our work above $1,000 is where the bigger canvases live.
What makes one painting cost more than another
Four things move the price most: size, the medium and materials, whether the work is truly one of a kind, and where the artist is in their career. This is not just our opinion. ArtConnect Magazine's 2026 pricing guide for artists lists the same drivers, saying "career stage, location, audience, medium, and sales history all play a role" in what a work costs (ArtConnect Magazine, Pricing Your Art, 2026).
Career stage matters because an artist who has shown in more exhibitions, won awards, or built a steady record of sales can charge more, and buyers pay it because demand is higher. A new artist often prices lower while building an audience. That is good news for a buyer who wants a strong piece at a fair price.
Being one of a kind is the reason an original costs more than a print at all. The Tate explains that an original work has "a presence in time and space, and a unique existence in the place it happens to be," and that this is why the art market values an original higher than a copy (Tate, Authenticity, 2026). Nobody else owns a copy of the exact object hanging on your wall. That is what you are paying for.
Price by size
Bigger paintings cost more because they use more materials and take more hours to make. In our collection the pattern is clear when you measure the longest side of the canvas.
| Size (longest side) | Typical price (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Small, up to 40 cm | about $400 |
| Medium, 41 to 70 cm | about $700 |
| Large, 71 to 100 cm | about $1,000 |
| Oversized, over 100 cm | about $1,500 |
A small piece is a good way to own a real original without spending much. A large or oversized piece works when you have a big empty wall and want the room to feel finished.
Price by medium
The paint an artist uses changes the price too. Oil and acrylic tend to sit higher than works on paper. Part of that is materials, and part of it is time. Oil paint dries slowly and is worked in layers, and Draw Paint Academy notes that oil "is inherently slow drying compared to other painting mediums such as acrylic, watercolor or gouache" (Draw Paint Academy, Oil Paint Drying Time, 2026). A painting that has to dry between layers takes the artist longer to finish, and that shows up in the price.
| Medium | Median price (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Acrylic | $850 |
| Oil | $750 |
| Colored pencil | $400 |
If you like the depth and richness of oil, our oil paintings show the range. Colored pencil pieces are often the most affordable entry point into owning an original.
What the price does and does not include
At VanArtHub the price on the page is the price of the painting itself. Most of our pieces come unframed, so you choose a frame that fits your room, or you hang the canvas as it is. Every original ships with a signed Certificate of Authenticity, and that is included, not an extra. Shipping is free to Canada and the USA, so the price you see, plus any taxes for your area, is what you pay. We built our buy with confidence page so you can see exactly how authenticity, packing, and delivery work before you spend anything.
Key takeaways
- In our current collection, the median original painting is $700 CAD, and about 76% of pieces are $1,000 or under.
- Size is the biggest single driver of price: small pieces run about $400, oversized pieces about $1,500.
- Oil and acrylic cost more than colored pencil, partly because they take longer to make.
- You pay more for an original than a print because it is one of a kind, a point the Tate makes about authenticity.
- The price covers the painting and its certificate, and shipping to Canada and the USA is free.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I spend on my first original painting
For a first original, a budget of $200 to $500 is very workable. In our collection, 17% of pieces are under $400 and another 38% fall between $400 and $700, so you have plenty of real choice at that level. Spend what feels comfortable, not what you think you are supposed to. A small signed original you love is a better buy than a large one that stretches your budget.
Why is one painting more expensive than another the same size
Same size does not mean same price. The medium matters, since an oil that took weeks of layered work costs more than a quick sketch. The artist's record matters too. Someone with more shows, awards, and steady sales prices higher because demand for their work is higher. Subject and detail also play a part.
Are cheaper originals lower quality
No. A lower price often just means a smaller size, a faster medium like colored pencil, or an artist who is earlier in their career and still building an audience. Every piece we sell is a real, signed original with the same Certificate of Authenticity, whether it costs $100 or $2,000. Price reflects size, materials, and reputation, not honesty of the work.
Do prices include the frame
Usually not. Most of our paintings are sold unframed so you can pick a frame that suits your wall, or hang the canvas without one. If a specific piece includes a frame, the listing will say so. Buying unframed also keeps shipping safer and often cheaper.
Do VanArtHub prices include a Certificate of Authenticity
Yes. Every original comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity at no extra cost. It records the title, the artist, and the details of the piece. This is the document that proves you own a genuine one-of-a-kind work and not a reproduction.
How much does shipping cost
Shipping is free to Canada and the USA. Standard delivery runs about 3 to 7 business days within Canada and 5 to 10 business days to the USA. Orders ship from our studio in Vancouver and are processed in 1 to 3 business days. There is no shipping charge added at checkout for Canadian or US addresses.
Is the price in Canadian or US dollars
Our prices are shown in Canadian dollars (CAD) by default. If you are shopping from the USA, the amount in US dollars is often lower because of the exchange rate, which is one reason American collectors find good value buying from a Canadian gallery.
Do you offer payment plans
For higher-priced pieces, a payment plan can make a larger original easier to buy. If you are interested in a specific painting and want to split the cost, contact us before you order and we will tell you what is possible for that piece.
Will an original painting hold its value
An original can hold or grow in value, especially if the artist's career grows after you buy. But the main reason to buy is that you want to live with the piece, not to trade it. Because each work is one of a kind, it can never be reprinted, which is part of why originals are valued over copies.
Can I commission a painting instead of buying a listed one
Yes. A commission is a custom piece made for you, often in a size or subject you choose. Commission pricing follows the same drivers as our listings: size, medium, and the artist. Reach out with what you have in mind and we will give you a clear quote before any work starts.
Why does original art cost more than a print
A print is one of many copies. An original is the single object the artist actually made and signed. The Tate describes an original as having a unique existence in place and time, which a reproduction cannot copy. That uniqueness is the whole reason an original commands a higher price.
What is the cheapest original you sell
Our lowest-priced pieces start around $72 in the current collection. These are usually smaller works or colored pencil pieces, and they are still fully original and signed with a certificate. It is a real way to start collecting without a big budget.
Sources
- ArtConnect Magazine, Pricing Your Art: A Comprehensive Guide for Artists, 2026
- Tate, Art Terms: Authenticity, 2026
- Draw Paint Academy, Oil Paint Drying Time, 2026
Data checked July 2026. If something looks out of date, tell us and we will update it.
About VanArtHub
VanArtHub is an online gallery that sells original, signed, one-of-a-kind paintings to collectors in Canada and the USA. Every piece ships with a Certificate of Authenticity, and we are rated 5.0 on Etsy. Whatever your budget, there is likely a real original here for you. Browse our paintings under $700 to see how much good original art you can own for the price of a nice dinner out.
