Banksy
What is my Banksy print worth?
Banksy is the most searched name in street art – and the most faked. Whether your print is worth a fortune or nothing depends on a few checks you can do today.
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Signed, unsigned – or neither
Most Banksy prints on the market are screenprints from the 2000s, many of them released through Pictures on Walls (POW), the London publisher behind his early editions. Popular images were often issued twice: a smaller signed edition and a larger unsigned edition. Girl with Balloon (2004), for example, exists as a signed edition of 150 and an unsigned edition of 600.
The signed edition is usually worth several times the unsigned one. Both are real prints – but only if they come with the right paperwork.
Pest Control: the only authentication
Banksy does not authenticate through galleries or experts. His handling service Pest Control issues certificates of authenticity, and the major auction houses will not sell a Banksy without one. A genuine certificate is typically attached to half of a «Di-Faced Tenner», a fake banknote with Diana's face. If your print has no Pest Control certificate, you can apply to them – but only for works they recognise.
Why prices went up – and down
In 2021, Love Is in the Bin – the painting that shredded itself at Sotheby's in 2018 – sold there again for £18,582,000, the artist's auction record. Print prices rose sharply at the same time and have cooled since. A realistic value today depends on the image, signed or unsigned, condition and current auction results, not the headlines from 2021.
What is almost always fake
- «Original» Banksy paintings or stencils offered online at low prices.
- Prints with a signature but no Pest Control certificate.
- Canvas prints, posters and «limited editions» sold by decoration shops.
- Pieces «removed from a wall» without a clear, documented history.
More checks: how to tell if street art is real and what street art prints are worth.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Banksy print worth?
It depends on the image, whether it is signed or unsigned, its condition and whether it has a Pest Control certificate. Without a certificate, a Banksy is very hard to sell as genuine. Upload photos for a free estimate.
How do I know if my Banksy is real?
Only Pest Control can authenticate a Banksy. Check whether you have their certificate, compare edition numbers and paper with known data, and be wary of any «original» without documentation.
What is Pest Control?
Banksy's official handling service. It issues certificates of authenticity for his works; auction houses require one before selling a Banksy.
Is a Banksy poster or canvas print worth anything?
Usually very little. Posters, canvas prints and decorative reproductions are not editions released by the artist and have no collector value.