Used original artworks in Canada typically sell for C$75 to C$1,150 (about $54 to $810). Original works are valued on artist, medium and provenance, and establishing the artist is most of the job.
What original artworks are worth in Canada
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | C$1,132 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | C$963 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | C$736 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | C$510 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | C$283 | 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
- Documented provenance and exhibition history
- Original frames appropriate to the period
What pulls it down
- Unsigned works with no attribution
- Flaking paint and craquelure needing conservation
Selling an original artwork in Canada
Interac e-Transfer is the norm and is instant and traceable, which suits a private sale well. It is what most buyers will suggest before anything else.
Canada Post, Purolator and UPS cover the country, but rates change sharply between provinces and remote postcodes carry surcharges.
Two practical things shape a Canadian sale. Interprovincial shipping costs can exceed the value of a mid-priced item, which is why so much trade here is collection-only. And winter genuinely interrupts handovers in much of the country, so agree a window rather than a fixed day between December and March.
Winter clothing and sports equipment move from October, and the spring thaw brings the strongest few weeks for furniture, bikes and garden items.
Working out what yours is worth
- Photograph the signature, the reverse and any labels
- Search auction results for the artist’s name
Getting it ready
- Photograph any signature, and check the back for labels, gallery stamps, inscriptions or exhibition stickers.
- Do not clean or restore it. Amateur cleaning destroys value far more often than it adds any.
Photograph
- The full work straight on in even daylight, no glare, no flash
- The signature close up
- A detail of the surface showing brushwork or print texture, plus any damage
Put in the description
- Dimensions of the work and, separately, the frame
- Signature and any inscription, transcribed as it reads
- Provenance: where you acquired it and any documentation, plus condition
Medium, subject and attribution: “Original Oil on Canvas, Coastal Landscape, Signed, 60x80cm”. Say “signed” only if it is, and describe the signature rather than naming an artist you cannot verify. Framed or unframed belongs in the title too.
Pack flat with corner protectors and a rigid board either side, and never let the glazing sit against the surface. Consider removing glass entirely before posting, as it breaks and cuts the work.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the C$1,132 a buyer pays is the C$1,132 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 Canada
Canada is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of Canada with their own page for original artworks.
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Calgary
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Vancouver
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- Surrey
- Quebec City
- Halifax
- Laval
- London
Common questions
Where can I sell an original artwork in Canada?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Interac e-Transfer is the norm and is instant and traceable, which suits a private sale well. It is what most buyers will suggest before anything else.
Has it been restored?
Say what you know. Disclosed restoration is normal in the art market; undisclosed restoration discovered later is a serious problem.
How do I find out if a painting is valuable?
Identify the artist first, from the signature and any labels on the reverse, then search auction results for that name.
Should I have a damaged painting restored?
Get advice first. Amateur restoration and overpainting reduce value more than the original damage did.
More: how to sell an original artwork, what original artworks are worth, or Art & Collectables across Canada.