Let’s talk about the thing nobody likes to ask about.
You’ve bookmarked artists, saved portfolios, and sent yourself links at 2 AM. Every time you get close to actually reaching out, the same question stops you: how much is this actually going to cost me?
We get it. Art prices feel weirdly opaque from the outside — like there’s some secret handshake you’re supposed to know. So let’s just open the curtain. Here’s an honest breakdown of what affects the price of a custom DnD character portrait in 2026, and what you’re actually paying for when you commission one from us.
First: why can’t we post a single price?
Because no two commissions are the same.
A simple bust portrait of one character takes a fraction of the time it takes to render a full-body, fully rendered party of five with a detailed background. Pricing them the same wouldn’t be fair to anyone, not to us, and definitely not to you if you just want a quick headshot and end up paying for a mural.
That’s why we use tiered pricing based on what you actually want. Here are the things that move the needle.
1. Size & scope (the biggest factor)
This is the main thing. The more of your character you want in the frame, the more work it takes to paint them well.
- Bust portrait (head and shoulders): The most affordable option. Perfect for profile pictures, avatars, and Discord icons. The focus is on the face and expression.
- Half-body portrait: More room to show off your outfit, weapon, or upper armor. Still relatively quick. A great balance of detail and value.
- Full-body portrait: The complete character from head to toe. This is where boots, capes, stances, and weapons get their full spotlight. It takes significantly longer and costs more — but you get to see the whole person.
If you want the exact numbers, check the individual listings on our website — each size has its own starting price, and we keep them updated.
2. Number of characters
One character is one price. Two characters are not twice the price. It’s usually more because two characters interacting with each other takes more planning, composition work, and time than just painting each of them separately.
A full DnD party (four, five, or six characters) is the most expensive category for a reason. It’s essentially painting several full characters AND figuring out how they all fit together as one coherent piece with shared lighting, balanced poses, and a story that makes sense.
Party portraits are almost always worth it, though. There’s nothing else like having every member of your campaign on one canvas.
3. Background complexity
A simple gradient or abstract background is one thing. A fully-rendered enchanted forest with specific lighting, atmosphere, and terrain details is another.
We build background work into the base price depending on what you ask for. If you want “standing on the ruins of a specific castle at sunset with a storm rolling in from the east,” expect that to take more time than “forest, general vibes, you choose.”
4. Level of detail
This is the sneaky one. Two full-body portraits can have wildly different amounts of actual work, depending on how detailed the character is.
A human fighter in plain leather armor is relatively quick. A tiefling sorcerer with glowing magic runes down their arms, intricate jewelry, embroidered robes, a floating spellbook, and three familiars circling their head is… not.
More detail means more time, which means more cost. If you love intricate designs, great, but know it affects the final price.
5. Turnaround time
Most of our commissions have a standard delivery window, usually a few weeks, depending on our queue. If you need something faster (for a birthday, an anniversary, a baby shower, the last session of a campaign), we sometimes offer rush options.
We don’t always accept rush orders, but when we do, there’s usually a small added cost to prioritize the piece over everything else in the queue. If you need something by a specific date, just ask, and we’ll let you know what’s possible.
So, what are you actually paying for?
Here’s the thing nobody says out loud: you’re not just paying for the final image. You’re paying for everything that goes into it.
You’re paying for years of practice we put in before you ever showed up. You’re paying for the time it takes us to read your description carefully, ask the right questions, and understand what you actually want. Which is sometimes different from what you said. You’re paying for the sketches, revisions, color tests, moments when we look at it and go, “no, that arm is wrong,” and fix it before you ever see it. You’re paying for communication, for someone being responsive and professional from start to finish.
And most importantly, you’re paying for the thing at the end, actually, to feel like your character. Not a stock pose. Not a generic elf. Your elf. The one you’ve been playing for months.
That’s worth more than the hours it took to paint.
How to budget for your first commission
If you’ve never commissioned art before, here’s a realistic way to think about it:
- Profile picture / avatar? A bust portrait is your most affordable entry point.
- Something meaningful you’ll print and frame? Half-body or full-body is worth the extra investment.
- A gift for a loved one, or your whole DnD party? Full-body or group portrait, this is the category where the emotional value massively outweighs the price.
A commission isn’t an impulse buy for most people, and it shouldn’t feel like one. It’s an investment in a piece of art that’s going to exist forever, with your character (or someone else’s) at the center of it. Treat it like you’d treat any meaningful gift, for yourself or for someone else.
Ready to see real prices?
Every one of our commission types has its own listing with the actual current price, full details, and examples of what you’ll get. No guessing, no hidden fees, no awkward quote process. Browse the full shop and pick the one that fits your vision and your budget.
