Hand Stamped Jewelry Pricing: How to Price Stamped Pieces
How to price hand stamped jewelry: blanks, chain, stamping time, finishing and packaging, with three metal examples.
In this guide
Hand stamped jewelry is personal and popular for names, dates and quotes. Metal type drives cost, and stamping takes time per letter. This guide shows how to price stamped pieces.
- Price = blank + chain + stamping time + finishing + packaging + overhead, then profit and fees.
- An aluminum necklace costs about $10.45 to make and sells for about $16.
- Sterling silver costs more and sells for more.
- Mistakes waste blanks. Add a small waste allowance.
Why stamped jewelry needs time pricing
Long names and quotes take more time.
Ruined blanks are a real cost.
The steps
1. Price the blank and chain
Metal type matters.
2. Add stamping time
By letters.
3. Add finishing
Darkening, polishing and sealing.
4. Add packaging and waste
Card, box and spare blanks.
5. Add overhead, profit and fees
Use 10% overhead, 30% profit and fees.
Worked example: three metal types
$20 an hour, 10% overhead, 30% profit and 10% fees.
| Aluminum name necklace | Brass bar bracelet | Sterling silver disc necklace | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blank and chain | $2.50 | $4.00 | $12.00 |
| Finishing and waste | $0.40 | $0.50 | $1.20 |
| Packaging | $0.60 | $0.60 | $1.00 |
| Labor at $20.00/hr | 0.3 hr = $6.00 | 0.35 hr = $7.00 | 0.4 hr = $8.00 |
| Overhead (10%) | $0.95 | $1.21 | $2.22 |
| Cost to make | $10.45 | $13.31 | $24.42 |
| Plus 30% profit | $13.58 | $17.30 | $31.75 |
| Cover 10% selling fees (divide by 0.90) | $15.09 | $19.23 | $35.27 |
| Suggested price | $16 | $20 | $36 |
Sterling pieces carry higher prices because of metal cost.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- No waste allowance. Blanks get ruined.
- Same price for 4 or 20 letters. Charge for extra letters.
- Cheap chains. Chains that tarnish bring complaints.
- No proofs. Confirm spelling.
What you keep on each sales channel
The same aluminum stamped necklace at $16.00 leaves different money in your pocket depending on where it sells. This uses the $10.45 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) | $16.00 | $1.97 | $14.03 | $3.58 |
| Your own website (about 2.9% + $0.30) | $16.00 | $0.76 | $15.24 | $4.79 |
| Craft fair, card reader (2.6% + $0.15) | $16.00 | $0.57 | $15.43 | $4.98 |
| Craft fair, cash | $16.00 | $0.00 | $16.00 | $5.55 |
| Wholesale to a shop (50% of retail) | $8.00 | $0.00 | $8.00 | -$2.45 |
On Etsy, fees take about 12% of a $16.00 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 $2.45 per piece here. Either raise retail, lower your cost, or set a separate wholesale price with a case minimum.
Stamped jewelry checklist
- Blank and chain.
- Stamping time.
- Finishing.
- Packaging and waste.
- Overhead, profit and fees.
- Letter fees.
Price jewelry labor and assembly
Type your materials and time into the peach cells. The calculator shows cost and price.
Get the Jewelry Labor CalculatorCalculators that help
- Necklaces: Price necklaces. Use the Necklace Pricing Calculator.
- Bracelets: Price bracelets. Use the Bracelet Pricing Calculator.
- Sets: Price sets. Use the Jewelry Collection and Set Pricing Calculator.
- Waste: Cost ruined blanks. Use the Waste, Defect & Yield Cost Calculator – True Cost per Good Item & Waste per Year.
Common questions
How much should I charge for hand stamped jewelry?
Many pieces sell for about $15 to $50. In this guide an aluminum necklace prices at about $16.
What metal is best?
Aluminum is cheap, brass is mid range and sterling is premium.
How do I price long names?
Add a fee per extra letter.
Should I add a waste allowance?
Yes.
How do I darken letters?
Use a darkening agent and polish.
What wholesale price?
Often about 50% of retail.
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