An art print side hustle in Canada sells reproductions of your own paintings, drawings or digital art, printed by a fine-art lab or on your own printer, through Etsy, your own site or a market table. Canadian labs listed an 8x10 giclée print at $15 (Imagefoundry, Toronto, sample price) to $56.87 (The Lab Vancouver, Hahnemühle paper) on October 19, 2026, and Canada Post’s oversize letter rate within Canada starts at $2.61. Copyright in your original work is automatic, so the business is yours to license as well as print.
Related reading: print-on-demand is the no-inventory alternative where a supplier prints and ships, the Etsy shop guide covers opening a shop, and the holiday market vendor guide covers selling prints at a table.
| Quick fact | Figure (read October 19, 2026) |
|---|---|
| 8x10 giclée at a Canadian lab | $15 (sample) to $56.87 depending on paper |
| Proof print (Imagefoundry) | $25 flat |
| Etsy percentage fees, Canadian or US order | 6.5% + 3% + 0.50% = 10% of the order total |
| Etsy fixed fees per sale | $0.25 processing + US$0.20 listing (about $0.28) |
| Oversize letter, up to 100 g, within Canada | $2.61 |
| Copyright term in Canada | Life of the author + 70 years (since December 30, 2022) |
What do Canadian labs charge to print art?
Canadian fine-art labs price giclée (pigment inkjet) prints by size and paper, from about $15 to $57 for an 8x10. These are the prices on each lab’s page on October 19, 2026:
| Size | Imagefoundry, Toronto (cotton rag or baryta, sample) | The Lab Vancouver, enhanced matte | The Lab Vancouver, glossy/luster | The Lab Vancouver, Hahnemühle fine art |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8x10 | $15.00 | $25.41 | $29.04 | $56.87 |
| 11x14 | $30.00 | $38.04 | $42.35 | $77.85 |
| 16x20 | $60.00 | $53.24 | $59.29 | $98.01 |
| 20x24 | $90.00 | $78.58 | $84.70 | $132.97 |
Sources: Imagefoundry fine art printmaking, The Lab Vancouver giclée.
How to read the table:
- Imagefoundry calls its numbers “sample pricing” for popular sizes on heavyweight cotton rag or baryta papers (Hahnemühle, Canson, Arches, Fabriano), delivered flat and trimmed in folders with glassine. It asks for a quote for exact pricing and charges $25 flat for a single proof print. The page says it was written in spring 2024.
- The Lab Vancouver publishes a full size grid by paper, and takes 15% off additional prints from the same image, with volume discounts on request. At 15% off, a second 8x10 on enhanced matte is $25.41 × 0.85 = $21.60.
Which rules apply to selling art prints in Canada?
The rule that matters most is copyright: you can only sell prints of work you own the rights to. The Canadian Intellectual Property Office’s guide to copyright says a work is protected the moment it is created and fixed in a material form, that registering with CIPO is voluntary (a registration certificate is evidence of ownership, which can be challenged in court), and that the owner has the sole right to produce or reproduce the work or a substantial part of it. Copyright generally lasts for the life of the author, the rest of that calendar year, and 70 years after; the term was extended from 50 years on December 30, 2022.
What that means for a print seller:
- Your own originals: you hold the reproduction right, so you can print and sell them.
- Someone else’s art, characters or logos: you need permission from the rights holder before selling prints.
- Commissioned work: put in writing who keeps the copyright and whether you may sell prints of it.
- Licensing to a business: when a company wants your art on a product or ad, CARFAC-RAAV’s 2026 reproduction royalty schedule (Section 3, commercial and advertising) sets minimum recommended royalties in Canadian dollars, excluding taxes. It also notes that moral rights protect a work from unapproved alteration or distortion, including overprinting and cropping, and require credit to the artist.
What supplies do you need to ship and sell prints?
You need a clear sleeve, a backing board for stiffness and a rigid mailer for every print you post. These were the Amazon.ca prices on October 19, 2026:
| Item | Product | Price (Amazon.ca, Oct 19, 2026) | Per print | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeves | 8x10 self-sealing cello bags, 200 count | $19.98 | About $0.10 | Every 8x10 print, online or at a table |
| Mailers | zmybcpack 9x12 rigid mailers, 50-pack | $32.99 | About $0.66 | Posting 8x10 prints flat |
| Mats (optional) | 11x14 acid-free mat, backing and bag kit for 8x10, 25-pack | $48.78 | About $1.95 | Matted prints for markets and gifts |
What does postage cost for a print?
Canada Post’s stamp prices page lists these non-standard and oversize mail rates (before tax):
| Weight | Within Canada | To the United States | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 g | $2.61 | $4.29 | $8.60 |
| 100 g to 200 g | $4.29 | $7.49 | $14.99 |
| 200 g to 300 g | $5.98 | $14.99 (up to 500 g) | $29.96 (up to 500 g) |
| 300 g to 400 g | $6.85 | ||
| 400 g to 500 g | $7.36 |
Over 500 g goes as a parcel. Weigh one finished package (print, sleeve, board, mailer) on a kitchen scale before you set shipping prices, and check Canada Post’s size limits for oversize mail and its rules for sending goods, especially to the US and abroad.
Illustrative example: what one 8x10 print earns on Etsy
This is an illustrative example. The print cost, supplies, Etsy fees and postage are sourced above; your sale price, the shipping you charge and the package weight (assumed under 100 g) are assumptions.
- Assumed sale: $35 for the print + $4 shipping charged = $39 order total.
- Print: $15 (Imagefoundry sample price) or $25.41 (The Lab Vancouver, enhanced matte).
- Supplies: sleeve $0.10 + mailer $0.66 = $0.76.
- Postage within Canada, up to 100 g: $2.61.
- Etsy fees: 10% × $39 = $3.90, + $0.25 processing + about $0.28 listing (US$0.20 at 1.4154 CAD per USD, Bank of Canada, October 16, 2026) = $4.43.
- Left at the $15 print cost: $39 − $15 − $0.76 − $2.61 − $4.43 = $16.20.
- Left at the $25.41 print cost: $39 − $25.41 − $0.76 − $2.61 − $4.43 = $5.79.
| Sale price (assumed) + $4 shipping | Etsy fees | Left with a $15 print | Left with a $25.41 print |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25 | $3.43 | $7.20 | −$3.21 |
| $35 | $4.43 | $16.20 | $5.79 |
| $45 | $5.43 | $25.20 | $14.79 |
Formula: (price + shipping) − print − supplies − postage − [10% × (price + shipping) + $0.53]. The print cost is the lever: ordering several prints of one image (15% off extras at The Lab Vancouver) or asking a lab for a quantity quote moves the right-hand column a lot. A market table removes postage and Etsy fees but adds a table fee and a card reader.
Which print products sell for a Canadian artist?
The products that sell are the ones that turn one artwork into several price points. These ideas suit an artist starting with a handful of originals:
- 8x10 prints in sleeves. The entry price point at markets and online.
- Matted 8x10 prints (11x14 outside). Ready to frame, a higher price for $1.95 in mat kit cost.
- 11x14 and 16x20 prints. Fewer sales, larger margin per sale.
- Small editions, numbered and signed. Say the edition size and keep to it.
- Local landmark and neighbourhood scenes. Sell to people who live there and to visitors.
- Pet and house portraits as commissions, with print rights in writing. Commission once, sell prints only if the client agrees.
- Botanical and wildlife studies of Canadian species. Suits markets, cottage-country shops and gift buyers.
- Holiday cards from your artwork. A low-price add-on to a print sale.
- Calendars for the coming year. Sold in October to December.
- Print bundles (three small prints). Spreads postage and Etsy’s fixed fees.
- Gallery-shop and café consignment. Ask the commission rate and payment terms in writing.
- Licensing to local businesses. Use the CARFAC-RAAV schedule as your minimum.
- Digital downloads of the same art. No postage at all; see printables.
- Print-on-demand products from the same files. Mugs and shirts without stock; see print-on-demand.
- Proof-and-test runs before a market. Imagefoundry’s $25 proof print checks colour before you order a batch.
What does a first 30 days look like?
A first month gets three to five images scanned and proofed, a small batch printed, and the first listings live.
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Pick 3 to 5 originals you own outright; scan or photograph them at high resolution; ask a lab for a quote |
| 2 | Order one proof per image; compare colour with the original; fix files before the batch |
| 3 | Order a small batch of 8x10s; buy sleeves and mailers; weigh one finished package for postage |
| 4 | List on Etsy (one listing per image, sizes as variations); book a market table for November or December |
A listing you can copy
[Title of artwork] - giclée art print, 8x10 / 11x14
Printed on [paper name] with archival pigment inks by a Canadian fine-art lab.
Signed on the back. Ships flat in a sleeve with a backing board in a rigid mailer.
Frame not included. Colours may vary slightly between screens.
Original artwork (c) [year] [your name]. Purchase does not include reproduction rights.A commission clause you can copy
Copyright in the artwork stays with the artist. The client receives the original
[or a print] for personal display. The artist [may / may not] sell prints of this
artwork. The client may share photos of it online with credit to the artist.Which Canadian artists sell prints, and what do they say?
Three Canadian artists described their print and merchandise shops to CBC Arts in December 2021. The article gives no dollar figures:
- Heather Buchanan: sells prints and illustrated merchandise online and at the occasional artist fair; said her shop is “the vast majority of my income”; began selling prints online about 10 years before the article; said she had sold to close to 50 countries.
- Ambivalently Yours (Prince Edward County, Ontario): plans each year on earning about half her income from shirts, cards and other items inspired by her art.
- Hilary Jane Boulé Petersen (Montreal): her online shop sold nothing but prints at first, for fans who could not get a tattoo appointment; prints remained her top-selling item.
Which tax rules apply to selling art prints in Canada?
Print sales are business income reported on Form T2125, with lab costs, supplies, postage, Etsy fees and market table fees as expenses. GST/HST registration is required once taxable sales pass $30,000 in a calendar quarter or four consecutive calendar quarters, under the CRA’s when to register rules; the GST/HST registration guide explains the test. This is not tax, legal, or insurance advice.
What can this guide not confirm?
This guide cannot confirm a lab’s quote for your files and quantities (Imagefoundry’s prices are samples), what your prints will sell for, or whether a given package qualifies as oversize mail rather than a parcel under Canada Post’s rules for goods. The CBC examples are from 2021 and include no sales figures. Lab, Etsy, Canada Post and Amazon.ca prices were read on October 19, 2026. This is not tax, legal, or insurance advice.
Which guides sit next to selling art prints?
- Print-on-demand: a supplier prints and ships each order.
- Etsy shop: opening a shop; fees in Etsy shop pricing.
- Holiday market vendor guide and craft market booth gear: selling at a table.
- Printables: digital downloads of the same artwork.
What are the common questions?
How much does it cost to print art in Canada?
On October 19, 2026, an 8x10 giclée print was $15 (sample price, cotton rag or baryta) at Imagefoundry in Toronto, and $25.41 on enhanced matte to $56.87 on Hahnemühle paper at The Lab Vancouver. An 11x14 was $30 to $77.85.
Do I need to register copyright to sell my art prints?
No. CIPO says a work is protected the moment it is created and fixed in a material form, and registration is voluntary. A registration certificate is evidence of ownership. You still need permission to sell prints of anyone else's work.
What fees does Etsy charge Canadian print sellers?
US$0.20 per listing, a 6.5% transaction fee and 3% + $0.25 processing on Canadian and US orders, plus a 0.50% Regulatory Operating fee in Canada, all charged on the shipping you collect as well.
How much does it cost to mail an art print in Canada?
Canada Post's oversize mail rates were $2.61 up to 100 g and $4.29 up to 200 g within Canada, $4.29 up to 100 g to the US, and $8.60 up to 100 g internationally, before tax. Weigh the finished package and check the rules for sending goods.
Do I charge GST/HST on art print sales?
Once your taxable sales pass $30,000 in a calendar quarter or four consecutive quarters you must register and charge GST/HST. Income goes on Form T2125. This is not tax advice.
Which sources support this guide?
The rules, rates, and platform requirements in this guide are checked against these primary sources. Retail price ranges are labelled as ranges to verify locally, and they are not quotes.
- Fine Art Printmaking — Imagefoundry
- Giclee (Inkjet) — The Lab Vancouver
- What are the Fees and Taxes for Selling on Etsy? — Etsy
- What are Payment Processing Fees for Selling on Etsy? — Etsy
- What is a Regulatory Operating Fee? — Etsy
- Stamp prices — Canada Post
- A guide to copyright — Canadian Intellectual Property Office
- Section 3 – 2026 Reproduction Royalty Schedule – Commercial and Advertising — CARFAC-RAAV
- Gifting artist-made merch this holiday season? It matters to these makers — CBC Arts
- Daily exchange rates (USD/CAD) — Bank of Canada
- 8 x 10 Self-Sealing Cellophane Bags (200 Count) — Amazon.ca
- zmybcpack 50 Pack 9x12 Rigid Mailer — Amazon.ca
- Acid Free 11x14 White Mat Board Show Kit for 8x10 Artworks, 25 Pack — Amazon.ca
- When to register for and start charging the GST/HST — Canada Revenue Agency
- T2125 Statement of Business or Professional Activities — Canada Revenue Agency