Quilt Pricing: How to Price Handmade Quilts by Size
How to price handmade quilts by size: fabric, batting, piecing, quilting and binding time, with baby, throw and queen examples.
In this guide
Handmade quilts take many hours, and most quilters undercharge. Fabric, batting and backing add up, and piecing, quilting and binding take time. This guide shows how to price quilts by size so your work is paid fairly.
- Quilt price = fabric + batting + backing + thread + time + longarm fees + overhead, then profit and fees.
- A baby quilt costs about $214.50 to make and sells for about $310.
- Larger quilts take far more time. Price by size, not a flat rate.
- Many quilters charge for longarm quilting by the square inch.
Why quilts are often underpriced
A throw quilt can take 15 to 30 hours. Pricing near material cost pays almost nothing for time.
Show buyers the work behind a quilt to support the price.
The steps
1. Cost fabric
Top, backing and binding.
2. Add batting and thread
By size.
3. Track time
Cutting, piecing, quilting and binding.
4. Add longarm fees
If outsourced.
5. Add overhead, profit and fees
Use 10% overhead, 30% profit and fees.
Worked example: baby, throw and queen quilts
$15 an hour (a modest rate for long projects), 10% overhead, 30% profit and 10% fees.
| Baby quilt (36 x 45 in) | Throw quilt (60 x 70 in) | Queen quilt (90 x 95 in) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fabric, backing and binding | $35.00 | $75.00 | $150.00 |
| Batting and thread | $10.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 |
| Labor at $15.00/hr | 10 hr = $150.00 | 20 hr = $300.00 | 40 hr = $600.00 |
| Overhead (10%) | $19.50 | $39.50 | $79.00 |
| Cost to make | $214.50 | $434.50 | $869.00 |
| Plus 30% profit | $278.85 | $564.85 | $1,129.70 |
| Cover 10% selling fees (divide by 0.90) | $309.83 | $627.61 | $1,255.22 |
| Suggested price | $310 | $628 | $1256 |
Even at $15 an hour, a queen quilt prices high. Many quilters sell baby quilts and throws more often for this reason.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing at material cost. Include your time.
- Flat rate for all sizes. Price by size.
- Forgetting longarm fees. Add them if you outsource quilting.
- Not explaining the work. Show the hours behind the quilt.
What you keep on each sales channel
The same baby quilt at $310.00 leaves different money in your pocket depending on where it sells. This uses the $214.50 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) | $310.00 | $29.90 | $280.10 | $65.60 |
| Your own website (about 2.9% + $0.30) | $310.00 | $9.29 | $300.71 | $86.21 |
| Craft fair, card reader (2.6% + $0.15) | $310.00 | $8.21 | $301.79 | $87.29 |
| Craft fair, cash | $310.00 | $0.00 | $310.00 | $95.50 |
| Wholesale to a shop (50% of retail) | $155.00 | $0.00 | $155.00 | -$59.50 |
On Etsy, fees take about 10% of a $310.00 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 $59.50 per piece here. Either raise retail, lower your cost, or set a separate wholesale price with a case minimum.
Quilt pricing checklist
- Fabric.
- Batting and thread.
- Time.
- Longarm fees.
- Overhead, profit and fees.
- Size-based pricing.
Price any handmade product
Type your materials and hours into the peach cells. The calculator shows cost and price.
Get the Handmade Product Pricing CalculatorCalculators that help
- Yardage: Convert fabric yardage. Use the Fabric, Ribbon & Yarn Yardage Converter – Length per Item to Yards or Meters to Buy, Cost & Leftovers.
- Custom orders: Quote custom quilts. Use the Custom Order Quote Calculator – Design Time, Revisions, Rush Fee, Deposit & Balance Due.
- Hourly rate: Set your pay. Use the Hourly Rate & Pay Yourself Calculator – Hourly Rate, Per-Minute Rate & Income Goal for Makers.
- Deposits: Track deposits. Use the Custom Order Deposit & Balance Tracker – Deposits, Balances Due & Overdue Orders.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a handmade quilt?
It depends on size and detail. In this guide a baby quilt prices at about $310.
How do quilters price by square inch?
Some charge a rate per square inch for quilting. Add fabric and piecing.
How long does a quilt take?
A throw can take 15 to 30 hours.
Should I take deposits?
Yes, for custom quilts.
Why are handmade quilts expensive?
Materials and many hours of work.
How do I price memory quilts?
Add time for cutting and preparing clothing.
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.
