People often ask for a mural price by square metre, as if the wall size alone can give a reliable answer. It helps, but only up to a point.
On its mural pricing page, isai lists a basic production range of around ¥15,000–¥40,000 per square metre for relatively simple work. The studio also uses a four-square-metre minimum charge, which is worth knowing for smaller walls.
That makes sense. A three-square-metre mural still needs planning, colour preparation, materials, travel and site setup. The job does not become tiny just because the wall is.
Design work is priced separately too. If the client already has logos, photographs or visual materials that can be rearranged into a mural, the workload is different from creating an original illustration from scratch. isai lists these as separate design categories, rather than hiding everything inside one square-metre rate.
Materials are another line to check. The pricing page notes that material costs are generally around 10% of the production fee. Scaffolding, transportation and work outside normal hours may also be added depending on the site.
That is why two walls of the same size can end up with very different quotes.
A flat wall in an empty office with easy access is fairly straightforward. A restaurant wall above fixed furniture, with night-only working hours and a ceiling high enough to need scaffolding, is not.
Before asking for a firm quote, send the studio clear photographs, wall dimensions and a short explanation of the space. If the shop needs to stay open during the day, mention that too.
The isai official website shows mural work for restaurants, offices, hotels and other commercial spaces around Tokyo.
For this kind of project, a useful quote is not just a price per square metre. It is a price based on the wall you actually have.
A better comparison starts with a written scope. Ask each studio to price the same wall condition, design responsibility, number of revisions, access hours and protection work. Confirm whether surface preparation, primer, scaffolding, travel, cleanup and final coating are included or listed separately. It is also useful to agree on who moves furniture and who restores the space after painting. For restaurants and retail sites, restricted working hours can affect both schedule and labour. A clear scope makes quotations easier to compare and reduces the chance that a low initial figure grows through avoidable extras after the project has begun. Before approval, request a colour proposal and a simple visual placement showing the mural in the actual room. This helps the client review scale, sightlines and surrounding finishes before painters arrive on site.
