Garden Flag Pricing: How to Price Sublimated and HTV Flags
How to price custom garden flags: blanks, sublimation or HTV, press time and bundles, with three examples.
In this guide
Garden flags sell well for seasons, holidays and family names. Sublimation makes full color flags easy. This guide shows how to price garden flags and house flags.
- Flag price = blank + printing + press time + packaging + overhead, then profit and fees.
- A sublimated garden flag costs about $8.58 to make and sells for about $13.
- Seasonal flag bundles raise order size.
- Large house flags need more ink and bigger presses.
Why flags need method-based pricing
Sublimation needs polyester blanks. Burlap flags often use HTV.
Large flags need a large press or multiple presses.
The steps
1. Price the blank
Polyester or burlap flag.
2. Add printing
Sublimation ink and paper, or HTV.
3. Add press time
Design and pressing.
4. Add packaging
Bag or mailer.
5. Add overhead, profit and fees
Use 10% overhead, 30% profit and fees.
Worked example: three flag types
$20 an hour, 10% overhead, 30% profit and 10% fees.
| Sublimated garden flag | HTV burlap flag | Sublimated house flag | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blank | $2.50 | $3.00 | $6.00 |
| Printing or vinyl | $0.90 | $1.20 | $2.50 |
| Packaging | $0.40 | $0.40 | $0.70 |
| Labor at $20.00/hr | 0.2 hr = $4.00 | 0.3 hr = $6.00 | 0.35 hr = $7.00 |
| Overhead (10%) | $0.78 | $1.06 | $1.62 |
| Cost to make | $8.58 | $11.66 | $17.82 |
| Plus 30% profit | $11.15 | $15.16 | $23.17 |
| Cover 10% selling fees (divide by 0.90) | $12.39 | $16.84 | $25.74 |
| Suggested price | $13 | $17 | $26 |
Seasonal sets of 4 flags give customers a reason to buy more.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Sublimating burlap. Use polyester blanks for sublimation.
- Single-sided only without saying so. State if prints show on one side.
- No seasonal bundles. Bundles raise order size.
- No UV fade note. Tell buyers outdoor flags fade over time.
What you keep on each sales channel
The same sublimated garden flag at $13.00 leaves different money in your pocket depending on where it sells. This uses the $8.58 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) | $13.00 | $1.68 | $11.31 | $2.73 |
| Your own website (about 2.9% + $0.30) | $13.00 | $0.68 | $12.32 | $3.74 |
| Craft fair, card reader (2.6% + $0.15) | $13.00 | $0.49 | $12.51 | $3.93 |
| Craft fair, cash | $13.00 | $0.00 | $13.00 | $4.42 |
| Wholesale to a shop (50% of retail) | $6.50 | $0.00 | $6.50 | -$2.08 |
On Etsy, fees take about 13% of a $13.00 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 $2.08 per piece here. Either raise retail, lower your cost, or set a separate wholesale price with a case minimum.
Garden flag checklist
- Blank cost.
- Printing.
- Press time.
- Packaging.
- Overhead, profit and fees.
- Bundles.
Price sublimation products
Type your blanks, prints and time into the peach cells. The calculator shows cost and price.
Get the Sublimation Multi-Product CalculatorCalculators that help
- Print cost: Find print cost. Use the Sublimation Print Cost Calculator – Sheets: Ink, Paper & Cost per Design.
- HTV: Price HTV items. Use the HTV Garment Pricing Calculator – Shirts, Hoodies & More, 1 to 4 Colors.
- Bundles: Price flag sets. Use the Bundle & Set Pricing Calculator – Bundle Price, Buyer Savings, Bundle Profit & Gift Set Pricing.
- Roll printing: Cost large prints. Use the Sublimation Roll Print Cost & Layout Calculator – Paper Length, Cost per Design & per Inch.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a garden flag?
Many sell for about $12 to $25. In this guide a sublimated flag prices at about $13.
Can I sublimate garden flags?
Yes, on polyester blanks.
Do garden flags fade?
Outdoor flags fade over time.
Should I sell seasonal sets?
Yes.
What size is a garden flag?
Often 12 x 18 in.
How do I price house flags?
They use more ink and time, so price higher.
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