A mural costs $20 to $50 per square foot if you hire a professional muralist or $5 to $20 per square foot if you hire a beginner. Experienced mural painters charge $2,000 to $5,000 per wall for 100 square feet. Your actual cost will depend on the level of detail in the painting, how much prep work the wall needs, and the paint quality.

A mural is a large painting that an artist creates directly on an indoor or outdoor wall instead of a canvas or other surface. Artists can paint a mural on a wall in your home, the outside of a building, or even ceilings.

Finishing a mural can take an artist anywhere from 3 days to 2 weeks, depending on the mural's size and complexity as well as the weather if it's an outside project. Smaller projects (under 300 square feet) take about 4 days or less.

When you hire a muralist, they'll first give you a rough estimate based on your expected project size and scope. Then they'll sketch a design on paper and get your approval before starting. After that, they'll prepare your wall if necessary and start working on the agreed-upon day.

Murals can sometimes increase home value, depending on the potential buyers' preferences. A well-done mural could attract buyers who value creativity, but it could also deter people who want to keep their house simple or neutral.

Follow these tips when hiring or collecting estimates from a muralist:

• Contact multiple artists for estimates and compare rates.
• Read their reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
• Ask how much experience they have specifically painting murals.
• Ask if they charge flat fees or hourly rates. Get a detailed, written estimate.

Ask these important questions before you hire an artist to paint a mural:

• How long have you been painting murals?
• How much will this cost, including supplies?
• Will you need to charge a travel fee?
• Could you show me a sketch first? Does that cost extra?
• How much feedback can I give during the process?
• How long will the painting take?
• Will you do any necessary prep work to the wall?
• How do you handle mistakes?
• What kind of paint do you use?
• Do you charge extra to seal the mural when you're done?
• How long will it take for everything to dry?
• Will you charge a deposit before starting?