How Much Does a Children's Book Illustrator Cost (and What If You Can't Afford One)?

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An illustrator for a children’s book costs from several hundred to a thousand dollars or more in my experience, and the price depends mostly on how many illustrated pages you need. That range is my own experience. I am not quoting a market survey, because I have not found one I would trust. This post shows you how to work out your number and what to do if it is more than you can pay.

Why does a picture book get quoted per spread?

An illustrator is paid for the pictures, so the count of pictures sets the price. A spread is the two facing pages of an open book, and many picture books use one picture per spread. A picture on a single page counts as one too.

Write the text, split it into pages, and count how many illustrations you need before you ask for a quote. Then every illustrator prices the same job and you can compare the answers. For the hiring steps, see the section on how to hire an illustrator for a picture book.

What does an illustrator cost?

Here is the figure I stand behind: from several hundred to a thousand dollars or more, in my experience. A short book with simple pictures sits at the low end. A long book with detailed full-colour scenes on every spread sits at the high end, and can go past it.

I have left out figures from vendor pages and forum threads. They disagree with each other and I can’t check them. Use your own page count and ask two or three illustrators for a quote on it. If the quotes are far apart, ask why.

What can I do if I can’t afford an illustrator?

These are my own suggestions, not rules. Each one trades money for something else.

1. Fewer spreads. A shorter book needs fewer pictures. Check your story for pages that repeat a scene and could be cut or merged.
2. A simpler style. Flat shapes, a limited colour range or a plain background take less time to draw, so they cost less. Ask the illustrator what makes a spread expensive.
3. Illustrate it yourself. You pay in time instead of money. It works if you already draw, or if you are willing to practise for months. The art has to look good next to books on a shelf, and you still need files at print quality.
4. A local art student. Students often charge less and want something for a portfolio. Agree the price, the number of pictures, the deadline and who owns the art in a written agreement before any drawing starts.

Should I offer a share of the royalties instead of a fee?

I advise against it for most first books. KDP pays one account, so you would have to track every sale and pay your illustrator yourself, often for years. If sales are slow, both of you end up unhappy, and the agreement is hard to keep. A flat fee with a written agreement is simpler for both sides. If you do offer a share, write down the percentage, how and when you pay, and what happens if either of you stops. What the agreement should say about ownership is in what to do if your illustrator wants a share of the royalties.

Can I use AI images instead?

KDP’s content guidelines say that “AI-generated images include cover and interior images and artwork” and that you must tell KDP about them (KDP content guidelines, checked 03-Nov-26). Some buyers also object to AI art in children’s books, so think about how your readers will feel.

Do I own the art if I pay for it?

Paying does not by itself make the art yours. What you may do with it depends on what you and the illustrator agree. The section on whether you have the rights to reuse an illustration, in can I reuse the same illustration for multiple books, explains the question. Settle it in writing before you pay.

What I do about it

If you have a story and a budget and aren’t sure which option fits, book a free 25-minute discovery session. Bring your page count and any quotes you have, and we will work out a plan together.

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