What’s my art worth?
Find out what art like yours has sold for. Tell us the artist, medium and size, and we’ll show similar past auction results from our database of 1,360,000+ auction records, with the median price, the range and the closest comparable lots. It’s free and instant, and it isn’t a valuation: when you want an opinion on your own piece, ask a specialist for a free auction estimate.
A specialist looks at your photos and replies personally. Free, no obligation to sell. Your details are carried over, so you won’t retype them.
How much is my art worth? What decides the price
At auction, the artist matters more than anything else: a signed oil by a collected artist can sell for many times an unsigned work of the same size. After the name, the biggest factors are medium (oil paintings usually bring more than works on paper, and original works more than prints), size, subject, date within the artist’s career, condition and provenance — a documented history of ownership, exhibitions or publications.
That is why the lookup asks for the artist, medium and size first. Past results of closely similar works are the best public guide to what a work might bring, and they are what auction specialists start from too.
Art value lookup: reading your results
- Median: half of the comparable works sold for more, half for less. It is a better guide than the average, which a single record sale can skew.
- Range: the lowest and highest comparable results. Works at the top usually have the best subject, condition or history.
- Comparable lots: each links to its full result with date, house, size and estimate, so you can judge how close it really is.
Prints, signed and unsigned works
For prints, the edition size, whether the print is signed in pencil, and the impression and condition matter a great deal; a reproduction poster is not a print. An unsigned painting may still be identified from its style, materials and labels on the back. If you are not sure, the free estimate is the quickest way to find out.
When to ask for an estimate or an appraisal
If you are thinking of selling, a free auction estimate tells you the likely range a house would offer it at. For insurance, an estate or a donation, you need a formal written appraisal: request an insurance appraisal. See also appraisal vs. auction estimate.
Questions
What is my painting worth?
What a painting is worth at auction depends mostly on who painted it, then on size, medium, subject, date, condition and provenance. The quickest guide is what similar works have actually sold for: enter the artist, medium and size above to see comparable past auction results, with their median and range. For an opinion on your own piece, ask for a free auction estimate.
Is this an appraisal or a valuation?
No. The lookup shows similar past auction results from our database; it is not a valuation, appraisal or authentication of your work, and nobody has examined it. A free auction estimate is a specialist’s opinion of the likely auction range; insurers and estates usually need a formal written appraisal.
How much is my art worth if it is unsigned or I don’t know the artist?
Tick “Unknown or unsigned” and we show results for works of the same medium, a similar size and, if you give one, a similar period by any artist. Unattributed works usually sell for much less than signed works by a known artist, but a specialist can often identify the hand, school or period from good photos, which is why the free estimate asks for the front, signature, back and any labels.
Where do the prices come from?
From published auction results of houses around the world: the realized price (with buyer’s premium where the house publishes it), converted to US dollars at the rate on the sale date, with the date and house. Each comparable links to its lot page and the house’s own listing.
How do I get a free auction estimate?
Use the “Get a free auction estimate for your piece” button after your results. What you entered and your photo are carried over; add your email and a specialist replies personally, usually within a few days. It is free, with no obligation to sell.
Does size matter?
Yes. For the same artist and medium, larger works usually bring more, which is why results of a similar size are ranked first. Measure the image or canvas without the frame; inches or centimeters are both fine.
Do you keep my photo?
No. The photo stays in your browser for this visit. It is only uploaded if you continue to the free estimate and send the request.
Seller guides
How to sell art at auctionWhat’s my art worth?Sell a paintingSell a printSell a sculptureSelling inherited art and estatesHow to photograph art for an estimateAppraisal vs. auction estimateWhere to sell artArt appraisal for insurance