Custom Luggage Tag Pricing: Sublimation, Leather and Acrylic Tags
How to price custom luggage tags: blanks, printing or engraving, straps and bulk orders, with three worked examples.
In this guide
Custom luggage tags are a popular gift for travelers, weddings, graduations and corporate events. They are small and quick to make in batches. This guide shows how to price luggage tags by style and quantity.
- Tag price = blank + printing + strap + time + packaging + overhead, then profit and fees.
- A sublimated tag costs about $5.39 to make and sells for about $8.
- Batch orders for weddings and companies get tiers.
- Leather tags often sell for more.
Why small items need batch pricing
Each tag costs little, but time per tag matters on small orders.
Batches save time, so bulk prices can drop.
The steps
1. Price the blank
Tag and strap.
2. Add printing
Sublimation, engraving or UV.
3. Add time
Design and pressing.
4. Add packaging
Bag or card.
5. Add overhead, profit and fees
Use 10% overhead, 30% profit and fees.
Worked example: three tag styles
$20 an hour, 10% overhead, 30% profit and 10% fees.
| Sublimated tag | Laser engraved leatherette tag | UV printed acrylic tag | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blank and strap | $1.80 | $2.20 | $1.50 |
| Printing or engraving | $0.40 | $0.80 | $0.60 |
| Packaging | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.30 |
| Labor at $20.00/hr | 0.12 hr = $2.40 | 0.15 hr = $3.00 | 0.12 hr = $2.40 |
| Overhead (10%) | $0.49 | $0.63 | $0.48 |
| Cost to make | $5.39 | $6.93 | $5.28 |
| Plus 30% profit | $7.01 | $9.01 | $6.86 |
| Cover 10% selling fees (divide by 0.90) | $7.79 | $10.01 | $7.63 |
| Suggested price | $8 | $11 | $8 |
Sets of two tags raise order size for couples and families.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing singles like bulk. Small orders cost more per tag.
- Weak straps. Use sturdy straps.
- Typos. Send proofs for names and addresses.
- Showing full addresses. Suggest name and phone only for privacy.
What you keep on each sales channel
The same sublimated luggage tag at $8.00 leaves different money in your pocket depending on where it sells. This uses the $5.39 cost to make from the example above, with Etsy's current transaction, processing and listing fees and Square's in-person card rate. Shipping, sales tax and ads are left out.
| Where it sells | Buyer pays | Fees | You keep | Profit over cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Etsy (6.5% + 3% + $0.25 + $0.20 listing) | $8.00 | $1.21 | $6.79 | $1.40 |
| Your own website (about 2.9% + $0.30) | $8.00 | $0.53 | $7.47 | $2.08 |
| Craft fair, card reader (2.6% + $0.15) | $8.00 | $0.36 | $7.64 | $2.25 |
| Craft fair, cash | $8.00 | $0.00 | $8.00 | $2.61 |
| Wholesale to a shop (50% of retail) | $4.00 | $0.00 | $4.00 | -$1.39 |
On Etsy, fees take about 15% of a $8.00 sale. The fixed $0.45 per order hits small items hardest, so bundles and multi-packs keep more of each sale. If a sale comes through Etsy Offsite Ads, add another 15% (12% for shops over $10,000 a year), so build that into your price if you're enrolled. Wholesale at half of retail loses $1.39 per piece here. Either raise retail, lower your cost, or set a separate wholesale price with a case minimum.
Bulk and custom order pricing
For a corporate order of luggage tags, logo layout and a test print takes about 0.5 hr at $20.00/hr. Charge that once per order, then spread it across the pieces. Materials are $2.50 per piece and hands-on time is 4.8 minutes, which drops when you batch the same design. Overhead is 10%, profit 30%, and 3% covers card or invoice fees.
| Quantity | Setup share per piece | Cost per piece | Price per piece | Order total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $10.00 | $15.51 | $20.79 | $20.79 |
| 25 | $0.40 | $4.69 | $6.28 | $157.01 |
| 50 | $0.20 | $4.29 | $5.75 | $287.47 |
| 100 | $0.10 | $4.09 | $5.48 | $548.41 |
The price per piece falls from $20.79 to $5.48 because the setup is shared, not because you cut your rate. Quote the tier the customer actually orders, ask for a 50% deposit before you buy blanks, and set a minimum order size for custom work.
Luggage tag checklist
- Blank and strap.
- Printing.
- Time.
- Packaging.
- Overhead, profit and fees.
- Bulk tiers.
Price small items in batches
Type your blanks, prints and time into the peach cells. The calculator shows cost and price.
Get the Small Items Batch CalculatorCalculators that help
- Laser quotes: Quote engraved tags. Use the Custom Laser Order Quote Calculator – Bulk, Corporate & Event Orders.
- UV jig batches: Price UV batches. Use the UV Jig Batch Pricing Calculator – Pens, Keychains, Golf Balls & Small Items.
- Bundles: Price tag sets. Use the Bundle & Set Pricing Calculator – Bundle Price, Buyer Savings, Bundle Profit & Gift Set Pricing.
- Bulk promo orders: Set promo tiers. Use the UV Bulk & Promo Order Price Breaks Calculator – Corporate Orders from 1 to 500.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a custom luggage tag?
Many sell for about $8 to $20. In this guide a sublimated tag prices at about $8.
What material is best?
Leatherette and aluminum are popular.
How do I price corporate orders?
Charge setup once and use tiers.
Should I sell sets?
Yes, sets of two sell well.
What info goes on a tag?
Many people choose name and phone only.
Are luggage tags good wedding favors?
Yes, especially for destination weddings.
Get every calculator in one download
The Lifetime Spreadsheet Vault includes this calculator and 320+ more for candles, tumblers, vinyl, resin, baking, crochet, laser and more. Pay once, and every future spreadsheet is included.
See the Lifetime VaultRelated guides
Lifetime Spreadsheet Vault
Stop guessing your prices. For every craft you sell.
- 323+ editable pricing spreadsheets in 29 craft categories
- Type your numbers in the peach cells. The math is done.
- Works in Google Sheets, Excel and Numbers
- Pay once. Every future spreadsheet is included.
