What's the difference between a muralist and a street artist?

A muralist is trained in painting and design fundamentals; a street artist comes from a fine-art-meets-street tradition (stencils, paste-ups, stylized characters). Both can paint your wall — the right pick depends on the look you want.

How much does it cost to hire a muralist?

Most commercial murals run $20–$80 per square foot. A 200 sq ft lobby mural typically runs $10,000–$25,000. Exteriors over 1,000 sq ft commonly run $35,000+. See our full cost guide for ranges.

How long does it take?

4–8 weeks from kickoff to varnish-dry for most commercial walls. Smaller interior walls can move faster; exteriors with permitting or weather windows take longer.

Do you cover my city?

MuralHire works nationally across the United States. We have active rosters in every major metro and a growing network in secondary markets.

Are MuralHire artists insured?

Every artist on the vetted roster carries general liability coverage and has signed our independent-contractor agreement.

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Muralist for hire

Hire a vetted muralist for your wall.

A muralist is trained in composition, color theory, and surface preparation. Their work skews illustrative, figurative, or decorative — the right fit when the brief is 'we want a beautiful, considered image on this wall.'

MuralHire's roster is vetted for commercial reliability: insured, on-budget, on-deadline. Share your brief and we'll return a curated shortlist in 48–72 hours.

Browse the roster

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What you get

How hiring a muralist through MuralHire actually works for you.

Curated shortlist

Three to five vetted muralists matched to your wall, brief, and budget — not a directory of everyone in your zip code.

Real proposals

Sketch directions, a fixed price, a hard timeline. No vague hourly rates.

Managed handoff

We stay involved through concept approval, production, sealing, photography, and the usage license.

When to hire

The scenarios a muralist is built for.

Hotel and multifamily lobbies
First-impression walls that need to photograph well and survive a decade of resident traffic.
Restaurants and hospitality
Feature walls designed for the camera and the lighting, not just the room.
Offices and headquarters
Reception, café, and open-plan walls that signal brand without becoming a billboard.
Healthcare and schools
Calming, place-based imagery painted in low-VOC interior paints.

How it works

Four steps, no mystery.

Step 1

Share the brief

Wall, dimensions, references, budget ceiling, hard date. Five minutes if you've prepped.

Step 2

Get a curated shortlist

MuralHire returns 3–5 vetted artists matched to the brief within 48–72 hours.

Step 3

Pick your artist, approve a concept

Site visit, two or three sketch directions, one round of revisions is standard.

Step 4

Paint, seal, photograph, license

Production runs 4–10 days for interior, longer for exterior. UV varnish on outdoor walls. Pro photos and license at handoff.

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Where we work

Top cities for hiring a muralist.

Muralist in New York, NY Muralist in Los Angeles, CA Muralist in Chicago, IL Muralist in Houston, TX Muralist in Phoenix, AZ Muralist in Philadelphia, PA

All cities →

Common project types

Mural types muralists are commissioned for most.

Each mural type lives under each city so coverage stays honest. Pick a city to see vetted options.

What it costs

A direct word on pricing.

Commercial muralists typically run $20–$80 per square foot in 2026, with a fixed floor that covers design, mobilization, and site protection.

Full 2026 mural cost guide

Frequently asked

Common questions about hiring a muralist.

Other hire options

Keep exploring.

Hire a street artist Hire a graffiti artist