Used art prints in the UK typically sell for £10 to £120 (about $13 to $160). The whole value of a print is in what kind of print it is, and the most damaging mistake a seller can make is describing a reproduction in words that imply an original.
What art prints are worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £120 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £102 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £78 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £54 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £30 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Signed and numbered limited editions
- Small edition sizes
What pulls it down
- Sun fading, which is irreversible
- Trimmed margins, which ruin an edition print
Selling art prints in the UK
Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands.
Royal Mail, Evri and InPost cover the whole country, and InPost lockers mean neither side has to be in for a delivery. Tracked 48 is the usual default for small parcels.
Distance selling rules bind traders, not private sellers, but an item must still be as described and anything sold as working must actually work.
Two practical things shape a UK sale. Bank holidays and the run-up to Christmas slow collections right down, so build a few extra days in. And postage from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland, the Highlands and the islands carries surcharges that catch sellers out — quote for the buyer’s actual postcode rather than a flat rate.
Working out what yours is worth
- Look for a pencil signature and edition number in the margin
- Check the margins are untrimmed
Getting it ready
- Look at the print under magnification. Regular dot patterns mean a mechanical reproduction; continuous ink or plate texture suggests an original process.
- Check the margins and the reverse for foxing, tape residue, trimming or light staining.
Photograph
- The whole print flat and square on, entire sheet including margins
- A magnified area of the image showing the print texture
- The reverse, plus any foxing, tape, tear or trimmed edge
Put in the description
- Artist and title, and the year if known
- Print process, and edition number if there is one
- Sheet and image dimensions, and whether it is framed or mounted
Artist, title, process and edition: “Signed Lithograph, [Artist], Edition 24/150, 1978”. Say screenprint, lithograph, etching or giclée reproduction — the process is most of the value. Never use the word original for something printed in an edition of thousands.
Post flat between stiff boards, never rolled unless it arrived rolled. Framed prints are far riskier — glass and post are a poor combination, so consider selling the frame separately or locally.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £120 a buyer pays is the £120 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UK
The United Kingdom is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Kingdom with their own page for art prints.
Common questions
Where can I sell art prints in the UK?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands.
Is it foxed?
Check the margins and reverse in daylight and photograph any spotting. Foxing is common on older prints and buyers price it in when they can see the extent.
What makes an art print valuable?
A pencil signature and edition number in the margin. Open-edition posters, however attractive, are worth far less.
Why do prints fade?
Light exposure, particularly direct sun. Fading cannot be reversed, so check the colours against an unexposed edge.
More: how to sell art prints, what art prints are worth, or Art & Collectables across the United Kingdom.