Prices for Childrens' Book Illustrations

This price list is for the benefit of self-publishing authors who want to get an idea of the cost of illustrating a picture book. Prices are based on being hired to illustrate an entire book; say, 10 - 30 illustrations.  (Think of it as bulk pricing: if I were only doing one illustration, I’d charge more.)

The price includes storyboard, dummy, 1 rough sketch, and 1 final illustration. Pretty good deal, when you break it down! Again, that price is based on being assigned about 10 - 30 illustrations. Prices below are per illustration. Example: 10 Full page color illustrations = $4390.



Spread      Full     Half    Qu./Spot
 Cover  (Color)







  wrap   front










COLOR
$669.   $483.     $304.    $149.
 $1,013.  $900.










Black & White  
$495.  $427.   $285.    $111.




Here are the definitions of the different sizes:

Spread - an illustration that spreads across two facing pages, filling up both pages with a single illustration. It may or may not have text superimposed on it.
Full - an illustration that takes up one whole page. It may or may not have text superimposed on it.
Half - an illustration that takes up one half of a page.
Quarter - an illustration that takes up one quarter of a page.
Spot - a simple illustration that takes up one eighth of a page, or less.


10 illustrations might be enough for a short 12 page book. 16 - 20 is more typical of the average 32-page book.

When the book starts making a profit, I would also get royalty payments. All of this is negotiated in a mutually agreed-upon contract. A win-win situation is desired!

Let me know if you have more questions, by leaving a note in the guestbook, or on the contact page.

Thanks for your interest!

 


8 comments | Read all | Post comment

Hello When you say the price includes x1 rough illustration, do you mean for each page?
-- Helen, 11/5/18

Stacye LeanzaTo answer Ali's question: - If you truly want 31 illustrations for your book, the price would depend on how many of each size you would want. It would range from about $5860. to $10,760. - However, most picture books do not have illustrations on every page. As an example, the picture book I illustrated a couple years ago (I Built my House on a Volcano*) was 32 pages, but had only about 15 illustrations + the cover. It came to about $3600.
-- Stacye Leanza, 1/4/17

Hi, how much would you charge for a book that needs 31 illustrations and a cover?
-- Ali, 8/17/16

Hi Stacye, Thanks for this page about illustrations. Could you please provide definitions of the different types of illustrations you're referring to: spread, full, half and spots. Thanks in advance! Katherine
-- Katherine, 7/29/16

Stacye LeanzaIngerlene, I would charge separately for page layout & type setting (aka: book design). I'd probably charge by the hour - about $20/hr. But I think a graphic designer might be more efficient at it, tho they may charge a higher hourly rate. It might be a good idea to ask a book designer or graphic designer for an estimate, as well. Hope this helps.
-- Stacye Leanza, 4/13/16


This website is made possible by an Emerging Artists Grant from the Durham Arts Council with support from the North Carolina Arts Council, with funding from the state of North Carolina and the National Endowment for the Arts, which believes that a great nation deserves great art. 


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