How Much Do Custom Picture Framers Make?

Have you ever found yourself mid-mat cut thinking, “There has to be an easier way to make a buck?” You measure twice, cut mats cleanly, and line up every corner like a pro. The craftsmanship is real, but is the payoff?

So, how much do custom picture framers make? The answer depends on your pricing strategy, niche, and what’s happening behind the scenes in your business.

In this blog, we’ll explore what framers actually earn, plus four ways to grow your profits — without sacrificing quality or creativity.

How Much Do Custom Picture Framers Make? 

Custom framing is a hands-on craft that combines technical skill and artistic precision. That expertise has value, especially in high-end galleries and design studios. In-house custom framers usually earn between $42,000 and $56,000 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer. 

But if you’re ready to move beyond hourly rates and predictable paychecks, running your own custom framing business can open new doors. When you set your rates, choose your ideal clients, and build a business model that fits your workflow, your income is determined by how you manage your business — not by how many hours you work. 

Ask a custom picture framer working at a gallery how much custom picture framers make, and you’ll probably hear around $22 an hour. Ask a shop owner, though, and that number could be much higher. 

4 Ways To Increase Your Framing Profits

Talent alone isn't enough if you want to increase your income as a custom framer. You need a strategy to support your craft and bring in the profits your work deserves. These four approaches help you land bigger orders, reduce waste, and turn first-time buyers into loyal fans.

1. Specialize in High-Value Niches (and Charge Accordingly)

If your framing profits feel stagnant, your customer base might be the reason. Transitioning to high-value niches can turn things around.

Art collectors, gallery curators, and interior designers care about preservation, presentation, and design continuity  — and they’re willing to pay for it. These industry pros understand your value, making them some of your best clients.

Because they have high expectations, make sure your work reflects it. Don't skimp on high-quality products or services: 

• Use conservation-grade materials: Protect artwork from fading, acid damage, and environmental wear.

• Install museum glass: Reduce glare and block UV rays for a cleaner, long-lasting display.

• Design fully custom mouldings: Match themes, branding, or exhibition styles with made-to-order frame designs.

Professional clients often bring steady work due to rotating gallery exhibits, seasonal office décor, and curated collections. To land (and keep) these jobs, your services need to match their operations. 

Rather than pricing each piece separately, consider building packages that align with their needs:

• Bundle gallery-ready frames: Include consistent mouldings and artist plaques, and offer quick turnaround with optional delivery or installation.

• Offer multipiece design sets: Help interior decorators frame an entire room or office with cohesive matting and finish options.

Offering niche services doesn’t mean turning away walk-ins. It creates space for projects that value your craftsmanship and improve your bottom line.

2. Reduce Waste by Tracking Material Usage Down to the Inch

Custom framing is all about precision — and that goes for your materials, too. Without a close eye on usage, your profit margins shrink fast. Matboard, moulding, glass, and backing all add up, and every wasted inch chips away at your profits. 

Want to stay lean and profitable? Here’s how:

• Log every cut and offcut: Use a point of sale (POS) system or material tracking software to monitor what gets used, trimmed, or wasted. 

• Track high-cost items by the job: Break down usage of museum glass, deep shadowbox frames, or premium mouldings, so you know what’s profitable. 

• Analyze trends and adjust orders: Identify slow-moving materials or underused moulding styles to prevent overstock. 

The right POS helps you order smarter. With detailed usage data, you can make better purchasing decisions, spot inefficiencies, and reclaim more of your margins.

You can also repurpose scrap materials to squeeze out a little more revenue:

• Sell mini-frames or gift-sized art: Turn offcuts into small, ready-to-go frames, perfect for impulse purchases or local markets. 

• Create sample sets for designers: Package high-end scraps into branded sample kits for interior designers or artists sourcing new frame options. 

Saving a few inches per frame might not seem like much until you multiply it by hundreds of orders. Paying attention to every inch of material pays off. 

3. Offer Framing Subscriptions for Artists or Photographers

Artists, photographers, and print sellers constantly need new frames for gallery shows, client orders, and seasonal releases. If you only offer made-to-order framing, you could miss out on a steady income stream.

Framing subscriptions encourage repeat business and provide you with consistent monthly income. 

To grow a subscription service, try the following: 

• Build tiers: Offer monthly or quarterly packages with a set number of standard-sized frames. Add upgrades like museum glass or custom mat colors to higher-tier plans. 

• Reward loyalty and perks: Create a program with automatic discounts, priority turnaround, or loyalty credits. Perks like these make customers feel valued and less likely to look elsewhere.

• Promote subscriptions during consultations: Discuss your subscription options with clients who bring in multiple pieces or mention needing regular framing. Position it as a time- and money-saving solution. 

Subscriptions help grow your revenue and strengthen client relationships. Instead of being a one-time vendor, you become their go-to framer for every show, drop, and gallery opening — not just the next job.

4. Speed Up the Sales Process With In-Store Design Tools

When customers can’t picture the final result, doubt creeps in. They start second-guessing colors, skip the upgrades, or settle for the cheapest option just to make a decision. That hesitation drags down your average order value and your close rate.

The solution? Give them a clear preview of what they’re getting before they commit.

Visualizer tools like FrameVue turn your customers’ ideas into real-time 3D previews, making it easier for them to say yes to upgrades. With instant visuals of matting, moulding, and glazing options, clients can make confident decisions on the spot, leading to faster sales and larger orders.

Here’s how to make the most of FrameVue:

• Build digital mockups in seconds: Let customers visualize the full design, including double mats, stacked frames, and specialty glass.

• Suggest high-end upgrades naturally: Highlight the impact of museum glass or textured mouldings, without the sales pitch.  

• Simplify your workflow: Save time during consultations and reduce design errors with saved templates and direct integration into your POS.

When customers can see exactly what they’re buying (and missing), they’re far more likely to say yes to premium options. FrameVue makes it simple. 

Is a Custom Framing Business Profitable?

Still wondering how much custom picture framers make? The truth is that it depends on how well you run the business side of the shop. Skilled craftsmanship is a given, but better profits come from innovative strategies, repeat customers, and using the right tools to help you scale. 

With LifeSaver, you can track individual materials like mats, moldings, and backing boards instead of relying on broad categories from a generic system.

Built-in sales reporting and inventory tracking help you price jobs accurately, reduce waste, and order just the right amount of material at the right time — giving you tighter control over cash flow. You can order directly from integrated vendor catalogs to get better pricing and protect your margins.

LifeSaver Payments also lets you accept credit, debit, and mobile wallets, so you never miss a sale from a cashless customer. When your tools fit your workflow, you spend more time framing, less time fixing mistakes, and make more profit per job.

Start a free trial today to see how LifeSaver can help you run a more profitable custom framing business.