Vinyl Murals: What to Consider & How to Price Them
If you visited my 2024 EOY Review blog (take a gander here if you haven’t yet!), you’ll know that one of Pandr’s business goals for 2025 is to streamline and optimize our time and energy; basically, we want to be working smarter, not harder, while increasing our income year over year. I’m not 25 anymore - years of rolling paint has my body starting to hurt (or maybe that’s just being in your 30’s for ya, but I digress).
With that said, though murals will always be our main love, dabbling in vinyl design has been something that we’ve become more and more interested in. Similar to painted murals, vinyls are a great way to get some color on a wall and bring in business, while also cutting down on travel and sparing our triceps the soreness that comes with a 3-day paint fest. Leaning into the vinyl world makes sense for our business goals, and has honestly been a lot of fun. They’ve also opened our business up to different types of clients and client needs - which is amazing!
As more artists explore vinyl murals as an alternative to hand-painted murals, I’ve had a ton of DM’s and emails regarding how to price them. I recently got a great query from a muralist named Eric V, who after years of successfully painting murals around Vegas, was asked to create a vinyl for a former client:
“I'm not sure how to price them at… scale. On one hand, it's obvious I'm just pointing and clicking for the design work (albeit they want it to feel like a painted mural and have a decent amount of detail and thought), and the murals could be any size, so there's the thought that makes me feel like a lower amount is more realistic… but the more I think about it, am I undervaluing myself here and leaving money on the table?.... Is it reasonable to price based on the size of these walls, even though the design could be printed on any size wall?”
These are great questions, and things that are important to consider in advance of booking your next vinyl mural. While you're not physically painting the design, there's still a significant amount of work involved in the process, including design time, client revisions, file preparation, and vectorizing intricate artwork.
Read on to learn how we have addressed these ins and outs of vinyl murals, and how to price them!
Why Choose Vinyl Over Hand-Painted Murals?
A vinyl SUV wrap we did for Dunkin’ in 2024! So fun to see it come to life and on the road.
At the end of the day, I prefer to paint everything, 100%. Hand-painted murals are better for the environment, offer a cooler, more unique aesthetic, and create a one-of-a-kind artistic experience. However, painting isn’t always possible due to so many things- time constraints, budget, technical requirements, or my aching back (lol).
So, when is a vinyl mural preferable to a hand-painted one?
If your design requires intricate type, photographic elements, or perfect logo placement.
If a project involves extensive typography, complex gradients, or a million logos that need to be precisely aligned.
If the client needs a consistent, high-quality finish on the design (this can be difficult to achieve with paint in certain applications).
If the subject/ “wall” is on wheels! I.e. car wraps, food trucks, etc.
How to Price a Vinyl Mural
Pricing for a vinyl mural can feel tough, for all the reasons mentioned above. But, it doesn’t need to be confusing or scary. In my experience, when pricing for vinyl design muralists should price based on the size of the wall, the same way you do for painted murals. That said, I believe a lower price per square foot (that what you’re charging for a hand-painted design) is fair, to account for the lack of travel, manual labor, etc. that is required to complete the installation. For us, this typically falls within the $15 to $25 per square foot range. This cost is just to hand over the files - no install included in this. However, I always establish a minimum project fee of $5,000 to account for the time spent onboarding the client, taking calls, handling revisions, and preparing final files. Pandr tip: having a minimum project fee is one of my best tips to avoid feeling overworked or undervalued, and to create even more clarity and defined expectations for the client.
Once you’ve nailed your design pricing, consider the following when giving the client a final estimate:
The printing and installation of vinyl typically costs between $11 and $17 per square foot (note - this is from my research with signage companies around the US)..
When you add your design fee to that cost, the total expense for the client is still often more affordable than a hand-painted mural.
If the design is being used on multiple walls, it’s okay to charge more per usage, since it increases the value of the artwork for the client! There are also other variables to consider in what you are ultimately charging for your vinyl mural - more on that, below.
Vectorizing Artwork
One of the biggest challenges with vinyl murals is vectorizing, aka preparing the files correctly. If a design is too complex for me to vectorize efficiently, I’ll outsource vectorizing. I always try to ask a local designer and have them charge me by the hour, but if you don’t know anyone or can’t find someone available when you need the work done, I’ve also had success through platforms like Upwork or Fivrr.
Here are some quick tips when it comes to vectorizing your design:
Vectorizing costs typically range from $20 to $50 per file, depending on complexity.
Proper file setup is crucial—ensure files are in CMYK, include bleed, and are formatted correctly for large-scale printing.
No live tracing! I always clarify in my job descriptions that designs should not be "live traced" in Illustrator, as it can create unpredictable and messy results. Clean, manually refined vectorization ensures the highest quality output.
While I can vectorize my own work and sometimes do, I also know that time is money, so I delegate this task when it makes sense.
Vinyl Material Options & Installation
Finally, the material your client wants will have a decent impact on their final bill. There are many different vinyl wall covering options available, each suited for different surfaces and durability needs. Before finalizing a project, I recommend speaking with a print or sign shop to understand the best material for the job and the installation process from a professional.
In the meantime, here’s a list of different types of vinyl material, their distinct features, and their best use cases. Can’t hurt to have this knowledge stowed away so you can add even more value to your client!
1. Cast Vinyl
Best for: Long-term, high-quality murals
Features:
Highly durable and flexible
Conforms well to textured and curved surfaces
UV-resistant and weatherproof
Common Use: Outdoor walls, vehicles, textured surfaces
2. Calendered Vinyl
Best for: Short- to mid-term murals
Features:
Thicker and more rigid than cast vinyl
More affordable, but less flexible
Best for smooth, flat surfaces
Common Use: Indoor walls, storefronts, exhibition displays
3. Adhesive Vinyl (Permanent & Removable)
Best for: Temporary and semi-permanent murals
Features:
Available in both permanent (strong bond) and removable (easy to remove without residue)
Suitable for flat or slightly textured surfaces
Common Use: Office walls, event spaces, retail stores
4. Air-Release Vinyl
Best for: Easy, bubble-free installation
Features:
Micro channels in adhesive allow air to escape
Reduces installation errors and makes repositioning easier
Common Use: Large wall graphics, vehicle wraps, smooth walls
5. Textured or Specialty Vinyl
Best for: Unique aesthetic effects
Features:
Comes in various finishes (matte, gloss, metallic, carbon fiber, frosted)
Can mimic materials like brick, fabric, or stone
Common Use: Decorative murals, themed interiors, branded spaces
6. PVC-Free Vinyl (Eco-Friendly)
Best for: Sustainable mural projects
Features:
No harmful PVC materials
Less environmental impact
Often used with water-based adhesives
Common Use: Eco-conscious businesses, schools, healthcare settings
7. Wall Fabric Vinyl (Peel & Stick)
Best for: Temporary or DIY murals
Features:
Fabric-like feel with self-adhesive backing
Can be repositioned multiple times without damage
Common Use: Home décor, rental spaces, temporary installations
8. Clear Vinyl
Best for: Transparent or see-through effects
Features:
Available in gloss or matte finishes
Allows partial visibility of the underlying surface
Common Use: Glass walls, windows, layered design effects
Personally, we prefer to leave installation to the client - especially if the client is an architect or interior designer. They will know what finish will look best in the space based on their other design choices! Our role is to deliver the design and correctly formatted files, not to handle installation, since that’s outside of our area of expertise. Managing print and installation of your design definitely warrants an additional fee. That said, we always help our clients source a local print/sign company to ensure they get a reliable installer (included in our minimum project fee).
Final Thoughts
While Pandr will always and forever be a hand-painted mural company first and foremost, we are truly excited to continue designing vinyl murals for clients nationwide. Not only are they a great alternative to hand-painted murals, particularly for designs that require extreme precision - but the whole process really aligns with our business goals. Like I mentioned above, I understand why pricing for vinyls can seem confusing - but just remember to price based on the size of the wall in question, then factor in design time, revision rounds, vectorizing, and the potential for multiple wall applications. By structuring your pricing accordingly, you can ensure you’re compensated fairly while providing clients with a high-quality, flexible solution for their mural and design needs. Now go forth and price your vinyl with confidence - we can’t wait to see what you do next!