Rates, 2026
What should a wardrobe stylist charge in a major city?
About $625 a day for a wardrobe stylist who is working and booked in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin. $450 in the first years, $775 when senior. Styling a shoot runs about $2,775.
Other markets: New York or LA · remote · a smaller market
First years
$450
a day · $55 an hour
Working, booked
$625
a day · $80 an hour
Senior, sought after
$775
a day · $95 an hour
The rate card, working level
- Day rate$625 per day
- Hourlyfor anything that does not fit a day$80 per hour
- Styling a shootpulls, fittings, the day, returns$2,775 per project
Sold by the day, a project fee. The day is the unit; half days run 60%.
What to charge for each thing
Ranges for a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin: the low end is the first years, the high end is senior. Working and booked sits in the middle.
- Prep or pull day$250 to $500 per day
- Styling a shoot, pulls to returns$1,275 to $4,250 per project
- Personal styling session$175 to $425 per session
- Kit fee$45 to $125 per day
How the number is made
Wardrobe or stylists at this level in this market day at about $625 ($450 to $1,000 in New York and LA). Put in the year you actually want on the perfect price page and the number moves with it.
Styling a shoot runs $1,500 to $5,000 and takes about 24 hours of your time; at your hourly that is $1,925. The number is the higher of the two, because the client is buying the outcome, not the hours.
Questions
- What is a fair day rate for a wardrobe stylist in a major city like Chicago, Atlanta, Miami or Austin?
- About $625 a day for someone working and booked, $450 in the first years, $775 when senior and sought after. Half days usually run 60% of the day.
- How much is styling a shoot?
- $2,775 at a working level in this market. The client is buying the outcome, so the price is the higher of what the market pays for it and what your hours in it are worth.
- Are these rates a rule?
- No. They are US 2026 ranges for the role, placed by level and moved for the market. What a client actually paid you beats all of it. The tool has a box for that, and it wins.
Your number, in five seconds.
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More in production crew
producerdirectordirector of photographycamera operatorsound mixergafferhair and makeup artistproduction assistant