How much is my watercolor worth?
Watercolors are among the most common works found in collections. They are sensitive to light, so condition is an important part of value.
Across 31,258 watercolors sold at auction since 2021 in the ArtSell database, the median price was $600. Half sold between $195 and $2,427, and one in ten sold for more than $9,302.
Find comparable sales for your watercolor:
How prices are spread
| Under $500 | 45% |
| $500 to $5,000 | 39% |
| $5,000 to $50,000 | 13% |
| $50,000 and up | 2% |
Artists with the most watercolors sold
| Artist | Sales since 2021 | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Don Balke | 118 | $252 |
| William Percy French | 111 | $3,250 |
| Emil Nolde | 107 | $71,402 |
| René Leverd | 99 | $136 |
| Nikifor Krynicki | 96 | $2,498 |
| Frank Egginton | 92 | $651 |
| Victor Noble Rainbird | 90 | $90 |
| Karl Schmidt-Rottluff | 85 | $32,848 |
| Erich Heckel | 74 | $13,691 |
| Albert Namatjira | 72 | $35,683 |
Recent watercolors sold
- George Stanfield Walters, “Rochester Castle on the Medway”: $145 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Francis R.Flint, “VIew over to”: $93 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Jason Partner, “Hay Harvesting”: $86 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Frederick William Baldwin, “Laxfield Suffolk”: $66 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Grace Marion Collcutt, “Romney”: $59 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Wendy Reeves, “Highland / Lake views in Autumn”: $37 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Simon Trinder, “Alighting Mallard”: $37 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Brian M.Wigger, “Shooting Party with an alighting duck”: $33 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Stephen John Batchelder, “Figures and Cattle in an autumnal landscape”: $33 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
- Richard Reeve, “Cloudy Effect (View of Caernarfon North Wales)”: $26 (Keys Fine Art Auctioneers, Oct 10, 2026)
The highest price recorded since 2021: Franz Marc, “Grünes Pferd” at $2,660,504 (Ketterer Kunst, Jun 9, 2023).
What affects the value
- Look for fading and paper toning by comparing the edges hidden under the mat with the exposed area.
- A signature and a known artist make the biggest difference.
- Keep it framed and out of direct sun until it is assessed.
Questions
How much is a watercolor worth?
Across 31,258 watercolors sold at auction since 2021 in the ArtSell database, the median price was $600. Half sold between $195 and $2,427, and one in ten sold for more than $9,302.
What share of watercolors sell for under $500?
45% of the recorded watercolors sold for under $500, and 2% sold for $50,000 or more.
Which artists' watercolors sell most often at auction?
Don Balke, William Percy French, Emil Nolde, René Leverd, Nikifor Krynicki have the most recorded watercolors sales since 2021.
How do I find out what my watercolor is worth?
Search the artist in the ArtSell price database to see comparable results, use the What's my art worth tool, or send photos for a free auction estimate.
Figures are recorded auction results (price including buyer’s premium where published, converted to USD) in the ArtSell database since 2021, updated twice a day. They describe past sales, not a valuation of any particular work.
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