How do I negotiate price?

According to the industry standard, an offer that’s around 10% below the original price has a good chance of being accepted by the gallery. 

Occasionally, sellers on Artsy may offer a discount—meaning you can get a work you love at a great price. That said, some galleries only offer discounts on works over a certain price or to returning buyers. 

If you’re negotiating, we recommend following these best practices:

1. Find out the price with all additional costs, like shipping, framing, installation, taxes, and insurance. This will give you the best sense of whether the work is in your budget.
2. Try asking the gallery, “Is there a collector discount?” or “Is price negotiable?” The gallery will typically send you a proposal, which you can accept or counter.
3. Ask about a payment plan. Sometimes galleries can accept smaller instalments over a few months rather than a big payment all at once. Note that in most cases, you can only take possession of the work once you’ve paid in full.

If the work is available for secure checkout via Artsy Inquiries, you will see the option to make an offer in your conversations. Do so by clicking the “Make Offer” button and enter your suggested price. You’ll be prompted to submit your offer to the gallery, followed by a checkout flow that asks for your payment and shipping details.

If you see the “Make Offer” button on the artwork listing, click it and enter your suggested price. You can also include a note to contextualize your interest or add a personal touch. Please note that the amount you enter does not include taxes or shipping fees, and all offers are binding.

Tip from Artsy Specialists: Validate your offer against historical market data with the Artsy Price Database giving you unlimited access to millions of current and historical results from leading auction houses across the globe.