One of the practical, but less glamorous, sides of running a gallery is tracking what actually sells. Over the years, I’ve developed a keen appreciation for the numbers—specifically when it comes to what sizes of artwork move most consistently. It’s a lesson any artist aiming to boost sales and gallery opportunities should grasp.
What the Data Actually Tells Us
In my gallery, tracking artwork sales by size isn’t guesswork—it’s an ongoing process. Each sale is entered in our database, tagged with medium, subject, and dimensions. At the end of a quarter or season, I’ll run a report. Almost always, certain sizes show up again and again.
For wall art, there’s a reliably strong demand for pieces in the 24" x 24" to 36" x 48" range. These dimensions tend to work well in many collectors’ homes—big enough for impact, flexible enough for most walls. Smaller works (say, 12" x 12" or under 16" x 20") do move, but often as impulse buys or additions to an existing collection. Large statement pieces, over 48" on a side, spark plenty of conversations but move less frequently due to space and price barriers.
For sculpture, I see a comparable pattern. Works in the 18"–30" height range—substantial, but not dominating—account for a large portion of our sales. Tabletop pieces and small desktop art are accessible and affordable, while monumental sculpture draws attention but a limited pool of buyers.
How Galleries Actually Use This Data
We don’t track these numbers just to satisfy curiosity. Gallery owners use sales data for:
- Planning future inventory (what sizes to request from artists)
- Staging and display strategy
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Informing pricing, especially where shifting a size can make a piece more attainable without dramatically reducing value
I’ll often reach out to artists when I notice their most consistent sales are in a certain size—and request more inventory in that range. Alternatively, if a collection is heavy on extremes (very large or very small work), I’ll suggest they consider producing pieces closer to our “sweet spot.”
*What Should You Do With This Information?*
First: If you’re established with a gallery, ask for feedback. “Are there particular sizes that seem to sell best for my work here?” Most gallery owners will be happy to share, and some may even have reports or anecdotal evidence.
If you’re not yet represented, do your own sleuthing. Visit local galleries, note what’s hanging (and sold), and scan online portfolios—which sizes get labeled “sold” most often? If you sell direct, review your own history: What’s left on your walls versus what ships out each month?
Does This Mean You Should Only Make Certain Sizes?
Not entirely. There’s value in variety—some collectors want a large centerpiece, others need a small accent. But aligning more of your production with proven “bread and butter” sizes can smooth cash flow and increase gallery interest.
Most artists find it effective to maintain three tiers:
- Small/priced-to-move: For first-time or impulse buyers
- Medium/core sizes: Bread-and-butter sales; most in-demand by galleries
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Large/signature works: Statement pieces, often for special commissions or shows
Consciously balance your studio production across these. If you’re struggling with sluggish sales, a shift towards those consistently moving sizes can make a real difference.
Don’t Let Data Dictate Everything
Finally, data is a tool—not a master. Some of your most memorable or innovative work might happen outside the statistical sweet spot. That’s okay. Let markets inform your offering, not limit your potential. But if you want to create more opportunities for regular sales and gallery placements, being mindful of what sizes sell best is a concrete way to do it.
Takeaway:
- Track sales sizes (yours and galleries’)
- Align production with proven demand—but don’t lose your creative range
- Ask for feedback and be ready to experiment with inventory
Question for Readers:
Have you noticed certain sizes of your work selling faster than others? What’s your process for deciding which sizes to focus on in your own studio?
Do photographs follow the same size/sales pattern as paintings in your experience?
Thank you for this info.I live in a New York City apartment and have four rooms, one of wich is used as a studio. Srorage is a problem and I have to work small to save space. I would love to try making larger
pieces however that’s impractical. I do sell yet, my inventory is high since I work consistently since
I retired. I have reconciled myself to this and still love making art and doing smaller works.
I enjoyed the article and subject matter. I cannot work on the medium or large sizes. The largest that I have worked is 11by14. I do hand engravings on copper plates. These plates can take up to 3 months just to complete let alone print off a small edition. Thank you for the information.
I have no website.
Jason, thank you for this article! It’s enlightening. Now that I have completed the gallery research from the academy lessons, this article gives me more to consider as I create art for galleries.
The sizes that have sold well for me are 5″ x 7″, 12″ x 24″, 11″ x 14″, and 36″ x 60″. Now that I see what sells in your gallery, I’ll consider creating in some of those sizes, too. A few of my favorite sizes to create are 24″ x 24″ and 36″ x 48″, so I’ll do more of those.
I will now pay more attention to my own art and the sizes that are selling. I will also research other galleries for the sizes that are selling in my target galleries.
Thank you so much!
My imagined location for most of my paintings is the kitchen or kitchen eating area and to a lesser extent, the dining room. That is because I paint about the food we prepare and enjoy as a reflection of ourselves and culture. I do not sell a lot, but small paintings such as 12″x14″ and 12″ x12″ or 16″ x 16″ work for me.
I am trying to sell my work on Instagram for the last six months. Not sold one panting. Yet, I am not discourage. Would love to get into a gallery. How do you know when your paintings are gallery ready? How do you know how to pick a gallery where your work will sell?
I sell strictly online so the element of shipping cost affects the size of my paintings. I started with small canvases but have slowly moved to larger ones. I’ve read and find it to be true that buyers like 16″x20″ the most and that size comes with a reasonable shipping price. I have introduced 20″ x 30″ and sold some but not as often.
But bottom line, just as many people tell me they want larger as tell me they want smaller.
Hi Jason, great post as usual. With the sweet spot in the 24″ x 24″ to 36″ x 48″ range, do you have a more detailed breakdown of sizes in that range that sell most often?
The sizes that have sold well for me are 11″ x 14″, 12″ x 24″, and 36″ x 60″. I dislike the 16″ x 20″ size because that’s the size all the sip-and-paint classes use. I’d rather differentiate my art from that market. One of my favorite sizes to paint is 36″ x 48″, but I have never sold that size.
When you are listing sizes, is this inclusive of the framing? So, using your example, one of my pastel paintings that is 16 x 16, when matted and framed, can easily be 24 x 24.
Hello, Jason. I learn so much from you. Like Lisa (above) I think we need clarification as to whether your size information–especially for 2-dimentional art–is referring to the image itself or to the framed image. Thanks!
Has anyone looked at paintings as a grouping? I like working 11×14 (easier to transport, bot personally and shipping), and I often play with variations on a theme that could be displayed as a group. (so, 24-ish by 30-ish, depending on spacing for a 4-pack.)
Are the most sellable size you listed with or without mat and frame?