Public Art Commission Calculator

This calculator builds a full public-art budget from the ground up rather than quoting a single per-foot rate, because sculpture costs scale non-linearly with size. It starts by estimating the sculpture's bounding volume from height alone (assuming typical proportions of roughly 0.4x height for width and 0.35x height for depth), then prices that volume per cubic foot based on your chosen material — bronze and stone command a premium over Cor-Ten or aluminum — and multiplies by a complexity factor since kinetic/interactive pieces cost nearly twice as much to engineer and fabricate as abstract forms, with figurative work in between. A scale factor then adds 3% in fabrication cost for every foot above 6 feet tall, reflecting the reality that large pieces require specialized equipment and handling that don't scale linearly. On top of fabrication, the calculator adds an 18% artist design fee (within the industry-standard 15-20% range), a foundation cost that scales with both height and site complexity, tiered installation costs that jump at the 6-foot and 12-foot marks to reflect crane and rigging needs, lighting, signage, permits, and structural engineering — a flat $1,500 review for pieces up to 10 feet tall, then a cost that scales with height ($3,000 base plus $200 per foot) above that, since taller work needs more engineering scrutiny, not none at all below the threshold.

Site complexity — whether the location is flat and open or urban and access-restricted — multiplies installation cost by up to 1.8x and shifts permit costs and foundation pricing higher. Everything is summed into a subtotal, then your entered contingency percentage (5-25%, with 10-15% standard for public projects) is added on top for the final total. Because so much of this is scaled from height alone, unusual proportions (a wide, low relief piece, for instance) won't be reflected accurately — treat the output as an order-of-magnitude planning estimate, not a fabricator's quote.