Linear Pricing vs. Hourly Pricing for Artists: Which Method Actually Protects Your Time?

Pricing artwork often feels deceptively simple… until you try to explain it to a client or justify it to yourself. A piece looks finished, the size is clear, yet the labor behind it feels invisible. If you’ve ever wondered whether a size-based formula truly reflects your effort, or whether hourly pricing feels too complicated or exposed, this guide is for you.

In this article, we compare linear span pricing (height + width) and hourly pricing, explain when each model works best, and show how many artists use both together to price sustainably without second-guessing every piece.

Why Artists Look for Alternatives to Square-Inch Pricing

Most artists are first introduced to square-inch pricing because it feels logical. Multiply height by width, apply a rate, and you have a number. But over time, many painters notice cracks in that simplicity.

Long, narrow pieces can feel overpriced compared to their visual impact. Smaller works packed with detail can feel severely underpriced. And for artists whose work varies in orientation or format, surface area does not always match effort or perception.

Financial pressure adds weight to these decisions. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for craft and fine artists was approximately $56,260 as of May 2024. While this figure reflects employed artists and not all self-employed painters, it highlights an important reality: many visual artists are working within modest income ranges while navigating unpredictable workloads and inconsistent pricing models.

That tension pushes artists to look for pricing systems that feel fair, explainable, and sustainable. This is where many painters begin experimenting with linear pricing as an alternative anchor.

Linear Span Pricing (Height + Width): What It Does Well

Linear span pricing measures scale, not labor.

Instead of calculating surface area, you add the height and width of a piece and multiply by a set rate.

Formula
Final price = (Height + Width) × Linear rate

Example
An 18 × 30 inch oil painting
Linear span = 18 + 30 = 48 inches
At $12 per linear inch
Final price = $576

What Linear Span Pricing Measures

Linear span pricing reflects:

• how large a piece feels on a wall

• its visual footprint

• its physical presence in a space

It does not attempt to measure:

• time spent

• level of detail

• revisions

• cognitive or emotional labor

That limitation is intentional.

Why Artists Like Linear Span Pricing

Advantages

• Easy to calculate and explain

• Works well for elongated or panoramic formats

• Feels more intuitive than square-inch pricing for many painters

• Creates consistency across orientations

Drawbacks

• Can underpay highly detailed or slow work

• Does not account for revisions or scope creep

• Needs support from another pricing layer to protect time

Linear span pricing works best as a size-based anchor, not a complete pricing system. This is exactly how it is treated inside The Art Price Lab… as one input among several, not the final answer.

Hourly Pricing: Valuing the Invisible Labor

Hourly pricing shifts the focus from size to time.

Instead of anchoring price to dimensions, you set an hourly rate and charge for the actual hours spent on a piece.

Example
Hourly rate: $45
Time spent: 14 hours
Final price: $630

When Hourly Pricing Makes Sense

Hourly pricing is especially useful when:

• detail varies significantly from piece to piece

• revisions are common

• conceptual or planning time is substantial

• deadlines compress your schedule

It ensures that:

• slow, careful work is not penalized

• added scope is compensated

• artists are paid for thinking time, not just execution

Why Artists Hesitate to Use Hourly Pricing

Challenges

• Requires time tracking

• Some clients fear unpredictability

• Harder to quote instantly

• Can feel vulnerable without clear boundaries

These concerns are real… but they can be addressed with transparency and structure.

Linear Span vs Hourly: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Let’s compare two realistic projects.

*Linear rate: $10 per inch
†Hourly rate: $45

The takeaway is not that one method is better… but that they reward different things.

• Linear span rewards scale

• Hourly rewards labor

Clients often perceive linear pricing as simpler, while hourly pricing feels fairer once process and scope are visible.

Hybrid Pricing: How Most Artists Actually Work

Many professional artists quietly use both models.

Hybrid Option 1: Linear Span Base + Hourly Adjustments

Set a linear price to anchor size, then apply hourly charges for:

• high detail

• revisions

• rush timelines

Example:
A 20 × 40 inch painting priced at $800 via linear span, plus $50 per hour for revisions beyond the original scope.

Hybrid Option 2: Hourly Tracking + Linear Reality Check

Track hours internally, but use linear pricing as a reference to ensure the final number aligns with perceived scale.

This layered approach mirrors how The Art Price Lab separates measurement, time, and complexity, allowing artists to price confidently without forcing everything into one rigid formula.

Choosing the Right Model for Each Project

Ask yourself:

General guidance:

• More “yes” on detail and revisions points to hourly or hybrid pricing

• More “yes” on scale and simplicity points to linear span pricing

Making Pricing Sustainable, Not Just Logical

No pricing method works in isolation.

Linear pricing without time protection leads to burnout.
Hourly pricing without boundaries leads to resentment.

Sustainable pricing combines:

• a clear measurement method

• a defined hourly value

• minimums and scope clarity

This layered thinking is central to The Art Price Lab… not to complicate pricing, but to remove guesswork and self-doubt from it.

Linear span pricing and hourly pricing are not opposing philosophies. They are tools that protect different realities.

When you understand what each one measures… size or time… you can choose intentionally instead of defensively. Pricing stops feeling like a gamble and starts feeling grounded.