Banksy Artwork Value | Prices, Originals vs Prints, How to Sell

At-a-glance: Banksy

The world's most famous anonymous artist, Banksy has built a massive market for both limited-edition prints and authenticated street works — with Pest Control authentication as the essential gatekeeper.

Bio

Name: Banksy (anonymous)
Years Active: 1990s–present
Nationality: British

Style

Stenciled street art with satirical, socio-political imagery. Subversive humor, anti-establishment themes, and iconic visual motifs.

What to look for

Pest Control COA (essential), edition numbering in pencil, proper paper dimensions, signed vs unsigned status, documented provenance for street pieces.

What Banksy works do people actually own?

Most Banksy works in private hands aren't street murals — they're limited-edition screenprints. Like Warhol and Haring, Banksy built a robust print market alongside his street practice. Understanding whether you have an original or reproduction — and whether you have Pest Control authentication — is the first step in determining value.

Unsigned screenprints (common images) — $5,000–$50,000
Standard unsigned editions of works like Rude Copper, Pulp Fiction, and similar images. Editions typically 500–600. Pest Control COA required for market acceptance. Condition and image popularity affect where a print falls in this range.
Unsigned screenprints (iconic images) — $40,000–$150,000
Unsigned editions of the most sought-after images: Girl with Balloon, Love is in the Air (Flower Thrower), Bomb Hugger. Editions of 500+. Even unsigned, these iconic works command strong prices with proper authentication.
Signed screenprints — $100,000–$500,000+
Signed editions of iconic images in smaller runs (typically 150 copies). Pencil signature in lower margin alongside edition number. Signed Girl with Balloon prints have sold for $200,000–$400,000 at recent auctions. Condition, colorway, and edition number affect value.
Di-Faced Tenners — $5,000–$15,000
Altered £10 notes featuring Princess Diana, released at Notting Hill Carnival and Reading Festival in 2004. Approximately 100,000 printed, but most were spent or discarded — authenticated examples with Pest Control COA are now collectible.
Street pieces — $50,000–$2,000,000+
Works removed from walls. Value depends heavily on provenance documentation, extraction quality, image significance, and Pest Control authentication. Many claimed street pieces cannot be verified and have minimal market value.
Unique works and paintings — $500,000–$25,000,000+
Original paintings and unique pieces. Love is in the Bin (the shredded Girl with Balloon) sold for £18.6 million in 2021. These rarely appear at auction and require extensive authentication and provenance.

Works without Pest Control authentication sell for a fraction of authenticated equivalents — if they sell at all. Upload your piece for a specific estimate based on current market data.

How to verify Banksy authenticity

Authentication is essential for Banksy — forgeries are rampant, and the market won't accept works without proper documentation. Before getting a valuation, gather these details:

Pest Control COA: The only accepted authentication for Banksy. Without their certificate, most auction houses and serious buyers won't consider a purchase. Contact them at pestcontroloffice.com.
For prints: Check edition number format (pencil, lower margin), paper dimensions, and whether signed or unsigned. Pest Control maintains records of all official print releases.
For street pieces: Document the extraction process, location history, photos from when it was on the wall, news coverage, and any evidence linking the work to Banksy.
Beware forgeries: Banksy is one of the most forged artists. A signature alone means nothing — Pest Control verification is the only accepted standard.
Authentication timeline: Pest Control typically takes several weeks to process requests. The fee is approximately £100+VAT for prints. Budget this time before selling.

Upload photos of the front, back, any COA, and provenance documentation for a preliminary assessment.

Get Free Valuation

Banksy artwork FAQs

Pest Control is Banksy's official authentication body — without their Certificate of Authenticity (COA), most auction houses and serious buyers won't consider a purchase. Submit your work through pestcontroloffice.com with photos and provenance documentation. The process typically takes several weeks, and many submissions are rejected without explanation. For general guidance on distinguishing originals from reproductions, see our original vs print artwork guide.

Signed editions are smaller (typically 150 copies) and worth significantly more — often 3–5x the value of unsigned versions of the same image. Both require Pest Control COAs to be sellable. An unsigned Girl with Balloon might bring $40,000–$80,000; signed versions have sold for $200,000–$400,000 in recent auctions. Understanding these differences is essential before getting a valuation.

Authentic Banksy prints are screenprints on archival paper, released in documented editions through official channels. Look for edition numbering in pencil (e.g., 45/150), proper paper size and quality, and most importantly — a Pest Control COA. Forgeries are extremely common, and a signature alone means nothing. A free appraisal can help assess authenticity markers before you pursue formal authentication.

Girl with Balloon, Love is in the Air (Flower Thrower), and Bomb Hugger lead the market. Signed versions command the highest prices — signed Girl with Balloon prints have sold for $200,000–$400,000 at recent auctions. Among contemporary street artists, Banksy prints generally command higher prices than Haring or Basquiat prints at comparable edition sizes.

The right venue depends on value. Unsigned prints under $50,000 sell well through specialist dealers or vetted online platforms. Signed prints valued $50,000–$500,000 suit major auction houses or Banksy specialists. Above $500,000, consign to Sotheby's, Christie's, or Phillips evening sales. For pieces valued over $1,000, we can help connect you with the right channel — see our selling guide for more details.

Banksy's signature alone is not reliable proof of authenticity — forgeries are rampant. Authentic signed prints feature pencil signatures in the lower margin alongside edition numbers. However, many genuine Banksy works are unsigned. The only accepted authentication standard is a Pest Control COA. Compare your piece to documented examples, but ultimately Pest Control verification is required for market acceptance.

How to sell Banksy artwork

Ready to sell your artwork? Here's the process for Banksy pieces at any value level.

1

Get a valuation

Upload photos and we'll assess your piece's authenticity markers, identify the edition if applicable, and provide a realistic market value range within 24–48 hours.

2

Verify authenticity if needed

Without a Pest Control COA, your Banksy is essentially unsellable in the legitimate market. Submit through pestcontroloffice.com and budget several weeks for the process. For street pieces, compile extraction documentation and location history.

3

Choose the right channel

Under $50K: Specialist dealers, vetted online platforms, or regional auctions.
$50K–$500K: Major auction house contemporary sales, Banksy specialists.
$500K+: Sotheby's, Christie's, or Phillips evening sales.

4

Prepare documentation

Gather your Pest Control COA, purchase receipts, prior auction records, and ownership history. Condition matters significantly for prints — store flat, away from light. A pristine print can be worth 20–30% more than one with fading or damage.

Ready to get a free Banksy valuation?

Upload photos of your artwork — front, back, signature, and any COA or provenance documentation — and receive a research-backed estimate with guidance on authenticity, pricing, and selling options.