Figuring out what to charge for handmade crafts can feel like a shot in the dark. Most makers don’t struggle because they’re bad at business — they struggle because pricing feels messy, emotional, and confusing.
That’s exactly why I built my craft pricing calculator.
I created it for myself first. I was tired of guessing prices, undercharging, and only realising later that I worked for almost nothing. I needed one simple place where I could enter materials, personal time, and machine time (laser, 3D printer, CNC, sewing machine — whatever), and get a price that actually makes sense.
This article isn’t a pricing textbook. It’s a nudge. If you make and sell things (or want to), use the tool and stop guessing. You’ll price faster, more consistently, and with way more confidence.
Why Pricing Handmade Products Feels So Hard
Pricing isn’t hard because you can’t do the math. Pricing is hard because you care — and because there are so many hidden costs that don’t show up until later.
- You don’t want to look “too expensive.”
- You don’t want people to say “I can get this cheaper elsewhere.”
- You want it to sell, so you price it “safe.”
And then you realise you spent hours making something, used materials, used your machine, packed it nicely… and made almost nothing.
Most underpricing happens because people only count the obvious cost (materials), and forget the real ones:
- Design and setup time
- Finishing time
- Machine time and wear
- Packaging and fees
- Overhead (electricity, tools, software)
- Profit (the part that keeps you growing)
The goal isn’t “charge more because you deserve it.” The goal is simpler:
Know your real cost. Then choose your profit on purpose.
What a Good Craft Pricing Formula Should Include
If you want pricing that doesn’t collapse later, build every price from the same core parts.
1) Materials (Including Waste)
Count more than the “main” material. Include the little things too: glue, screws, paint, masking tape, sandpaper, blades, failed prints, test cuts. If you reorder it because you make products, it belongs in your materials cost.
2) Your Personal Time
Your time is not free. Don’t count only “production time.” Include:
- designing
- setup and calibration
- material prep
- cleaning, sanding, painting, sealing
- assembly
- packaging
- fixing mistakes
You don’t need perfect tracking. Even a rough honest estimate is better than ignoring your time completely.
3) Machine Time
If you use a laser, CNC, 3D printer, or any craft machine, that time has a cost. Machines use electricity, need maintenance, and they wear out. They’re production equipment — not “free help.”
This is why my handmade pricing calculator includes a section for machine time. If your machine runs for 40 minutes, that time should be priced like a real resource.
4) Overhead
Overhead is what you pay even if you sell nothing that day: electricity, tools, consumables, subscriptions, workshop costs, website hosting. Some makers add overhead as a percentage. Others calculate monthly overhead and spread it across products. Either way is fine — ignoring it is not.
5) Fees and Packaging
Boxes, labels, bubble wrap, cards, stickers, transaction fees — they all come out of profit if you don’t include them in your price. Packaging is part of your product experience, so it deserves a place in the cost.
6) Profit
Profit isn’t greed. Profit is how you replace tools, buy materials in bulk, upgrade machines, improve quality, and keep making without burning out.
Common Pricing Mistakes (So You Can Avoid Them)
Pricing Based on Fear
Lower prices feel safer, but they often attract the wrong customers and create burnout. The right price isn’t the lowest price — it’s the price that supports your quality and your time.
Copying Other Sellers Without Knowing Your Costs
Checking the market is useful, but copying a price without knowing your costs is dangerous. Two sellers can make “the same product” with totally different materials, tools, speed, and overhead. Start with your numbers, then check the market.
Forgetting Setup and Finishing Time
The product isn’t just the engraving or print. Setup, tests, cleaning, and finishing are part of the job — so they must be part of the price.
How a Craft Pricing Calculator Makes This Easy
You can do pricing manually, but most people don’t do it consistently because it’s annoying. A craft pricing calculator makes pricing repeatable:
- Enter materials cost
- Enter personal time
- Enter machine time
- Add overhead and profit
- Get a clear price instantly
No guessing. No missing categories. No “I think this is fine” pricing.
How My Craft Pricing Calculator Works
This calculator was built for real maker workflows, not accounting theory. It includes:
- Material costs (including waste)
- Personal labor time
- Machine time (laser, CNC, 3D printer, etc.)
- Overhead and profit margin
It gives you a clear breakdown so you understand why the price is what it is — and you can adjust confidently.
A Simple Pricing Mindset Shift
Price to stay in business, not just to make a sale.
One sale at the wrong price feels good for five minutes. Ten sales at the right price build something real.
Use the Craft Pricing Calculator
If you’ve been stuck wondering how to price handmade products, stop guessing.
Use the craft pricing calculator to calculate prices based on real costs — materials, personal time, machine time, and profit.
You can always adjust for your market later. But you’ll be making that decision with clarity, not fear.
That’s the difference between hoping your price works and knowing it does.