> Source: https://www.openingbid.art/artist/max-bill · updated 2026-11-02

# Max Bill (1908–1994)

## What is Max Bill’s work worth? {#value}

As of 2 November 2026, OpeningBid has recorded 940 auction results for Max Bill at 62 houses since 1993. Over the last 24 months the median price was $4,826 including buyer’s premium (middle half $485–$35,138, n=44). The auction record is $365,523 for Rote Strahlung (Irradiazione rossa) (2018, Sotheby's). Source: OpeningBid, an independent auction-results database.

**Top auction records: paintings, drawings & sculpture**

| # | Work | Medium | Price | House | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rote Strahlung (Irradiazione rossa) | Olio su tela | $365,523 | Sotheby's | Nov 2018 |
| 2 | strebende kräfte einer kugel, 1985 | Stone | $341,130 | Ketterer Kunst | Dec 2018 |
| 3 | fläche im raum von einer linie begrenzt, 1908 | Chrome | $308,417 | Bonhams | Oct 2019 |
| 4 | Vier Zonen im Weiss | Oil on canvas | $251,616 | Sotheby's | Jun 2017 |
| 5 | Kugelschale mit drei gleichen Ausschnitten, 1978 | Sculpture | $227,245 | Sotheby's | Dec 2020 |
| 6 | halbe kugel um zwei achsen, 1965 | Black granite | $192,060 | Sotheby's | Feb 2024 |
| 7 | Druchdringung von Farbündeln | Acrylic on canvas | $177,966 | Sotheby's | Jun 2013 |
| 8 | Endless Loop from a Circular Ring II, 1947-49 | White marble | $152,400 | Sotheby's | Nov 2025 |
| 9 | Extension from Black to White Square | Oil on canvas | $145,000 | Sotheby's | Nov 2007 |
| 10 | Kontinuität | Guilded copper | $144,375 | Christie's | Jun 2000 |


**Median price by medium (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Medium | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 79 | $59,031 |
| Sculpture | 47 | $17,905 |
| Works on paper | 9 | $2,118 |
| Other | 109 | $1,512 |
| Prints | 97 | $630 |

**Median price by size (last 24 months, n ≥ 5)**

| Size | Sales | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Large (over 120 cm) | 20 | $47,116 |
| Medium (50-120 cm) | 137 | $3,087 |
| Small (under 50 cm) | 148 | $2,536 |

Data as of 2 November 2026 · Source: OpeningBid, 940 results from 62 houses · [How we compute these figures](https://www.openingbid.art/methodology/price-data)


Max Bill is a Swiss artist with 1,165 auction lots recorded since 1990, median price $757. Some sold prices are hammer-only and exclude the buyer's premium; they are marked on this page. Some sold prices are not yet verified as premium-inclusive or hammer, and are marked on this page.

A work by Max Bill sold in 2026 for $40,116, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results.

**3 Max Bill works are coming to auction** (as of 2026-11-02).

- [Max Bill on OpeningBid](https://www.openingbid.art/artist/max-bill?ref=kg:max-bill) — follow free in the OpeningBid app for sale alerts.

## What is a Max Bill work worth?

Across 934 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Max Bill work is $757.

The median Max Bill print sells for $484 across 562 lots.

The median Max Bill painting sells for $49,375 across 106 lots.

The median Max Bill sculpture sells for $9,095 across 49 lots.

Medium (50–120 cm) Max Bill prints typically sell for $314–$907 (the middle half of 347 sold lots).

Small (under 50 cm) Max Bill prints typically sell for $313–$1,135 (the middle half of 191 sold lots).

Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

## Price breakdown by category

| Category | Lots tracked | Median price | Record price | Sell-through | Last sale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prints & Editions | 625 | $484†‡ | $22,448 | 89.9% | 2026-09-30 |
| Paintings | 121 | $49,375†‡ | $365,523 | 87.6% | 2026-06-22 |
| Works on Paper | 28 | $3,541†‡ | $62,990 | 92.9% | 2026-06-25 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 60 | $9,095†‡ | $341,130 | 81.7% | 2026-03-11 |
| Photography | 2 | $11,250 | $11,250 | 50% | 2015-05-07 |
| Masterpieces (top of market) | 47 | $94,247‡ | $365,523 | — | 2025-11-19 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Max Bill's market splits by medium. Prints & Editions (625 lots) median $484 with 89.9% sell-through. Paintings (121 lots) median $49,375, record $365,523. A typical Max Bill painting sells for around 102× the price of a typical print. At the top of the market (top 5% of sales, 47 lots) the median is $94,247.

## Price by size

### Prints & Editions

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 191 | $313–$1,135†‡ | $547†‡ | $22,448 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 347 | $314–$907†‡ | $464†‡ | $11,834 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 12 | $160–$435† | $378† | $13,165 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Paintings

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 38 | $32,329–$49,617†‡ | $39,651†‡ | $89,770 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 56 | $43,183–$77,640†‡ | $58,527†‡ | $177,966 |
| large (over 120 cm) | 9 | $81,067–$120,879†‡ | $95,730†‡ | $365,523 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Works on Paper

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 23 | $1,580–$5,569†‡ | $2,512†‡ | $62,990 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

### Sculpture & Installation

| Size | Sold lots | Typical range (p25–p75) | Median | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| small (under 50 cm) | 35 | $2,245–$27,595†‡ | $8,665†‡ | $227,245 |
| medium (50–120 cm) | 9 | $6,491–$144,375† | $93,750† | $341,130 |

† hammer price — buyer's premium not included.

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

Size is the work's longest edge. Cells appear only with at least 5 sold lots.

## Notable results

| Medium | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Paintings | 2018 | $365,523 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2018 | $341,130 |
| Sculpture & Installation | 2019 | $308,417 |
| Paintings | 2017 | $251,616 |
| Works on Paper | 2021 | $62,990 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $22,448 |
| Prints & Editions | 2017 | $22,197‡ |
| Works on Paper | 2022 | $21,239 |

‡ reported price — whether it includes the buyer's premium is not yet verified.

The highest recorded result in each medium. The full sale history is in the OpeningBid app (free sign-up).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a Max Bill worth?

Across 934 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median price of a Max Bill work is $757. The median Max Bill print sells for $484 across 562 lots. The median Max Bill painting sells for $49,375 across 106 lots. The median Max Bill sculpture sells for $9,095 across 49 lots. Medium (50–120 cm) Max Bill prints typically sell for $314–$907 (the middle half of 347 sold lots). Small (under 50 cm) Max Bill prints typically sell for $313–$1,135 (the middle half of 191 sold lots). Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a Max Bill print?

Based on 562 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Bill print is $484. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Max Bill's most expensive print?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Bill print is $22,448.

### What is the average price of a Max Bill painting?

Based on 106 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Bill painting is $49,375. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Max Bill's most expensive painting?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Bill painting is $365,523.

### What is the average price of a Max Bill sculpture?

Based on 49 sold lots tracked by OpeningBid, the median auction price of a Max Bill sculpture is $9,095. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Max Bill's most expensive sculpture?

The highest price recorded at auction for a Max Bill sculpture is $341,130.

### What is the average price of a medium Max Bill print?

Based on 347 sold lots, the median auction price of a medium Max Bill print (medium (50–120 cm)) is $464, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is the average price of a small Max Bill print?

Based on 191 sold lots, the median auction price of a small Max Bill print (small (under 50 cm)) is $547, according to OpeningBid's index of auction results. Prices are premium-inclusive where the house records them; hammer-only prices exclude the buyer's premium, and some prices are not yet basis-verified.

### What is Max Bill's auction record?

Max Bill's auction record is $365,523, set in 2018.

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Data last updated 2026-11-02. OpeningBid tracks 15,390,829 auction lots from 577 auction houses, refreshed nightly.

Cite this page as: OpeningBid, “Max Bill auction prices”, https://www.openingbid.art/artist/max-bill (updated 2026-11-02).

Historical auction data, not investment advice. Prices are premium-inclusive USD where the buyer's premium is recorded. Figures marked † are hammer prices (buyer's premium not included); ‡ marks a price whose basis is not yet verified. Non-USD results are converted at the sale month's rate.