Wedding Invitation Pricing: How to Price Invitation Suites
How to price wedding invitations: paper, printing, envelopes, design and assembly, with flat, suite and luxury examples.
In this guide
Wedding invitations are often ordered in sets of 50 to 150. Design, proofs and assembly take time, and suites include many pieces. This guide shows how to price invitations per set with a design fee.
- Price per set = paper + printing + envelopes + inserts + assembly + overhead, then profit, plus a design fee.
- A flat invitation costs about $2.09 per set and sells for about $3.
- Charge design once per order.
- Assembly time adds up on suites.
Why invitations need per-set pricing
Each suite may include an invitation, RSVP card, details card and envelopes.
Design and proofs take hours. Charge a separate design fee.
The steps
1. Cost each piece
Paper and printing per piece.
2. Add envelopes
Outer and RSVP envelopes.
3. Add assembly
Stuffing, ribbon and seals.
4. Set a design fee
Charged once.
5. Add overhead, profit and fees
Use 10% overhead, 30% profit and fees.
Worked example: three invitation levels
Per set: $20 an hour, 10% overhead, 30% profit and 3% card fees. Design fee is separate.
| Flat invitation | Invitation suite (3 pieces) | Luxury suite with ribbon | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and printing | $0.90 | $2.20 | $3.50 |
| Envelopes | $0.40 | $0.80 | $1.20 |
| Ribbon, seals and extras | $0.00 | $0.30 | $1.50 |
| Labor at $20.00/hr | 0.03 hr = $0.60 | 0.08 hr = $1.60 | 0.15 hr = $3.00 |
| Overhead (10%) | $0.19 | $0.49 | $0.92 |
| Cost to make | $2.09 | $5.39 | $10.12 |
| Plus 30% profit | $2.72 | $7.01 | $13.16 |
| Cover 3% selling fees (divide by 0.97) | $2.80 | $7.22 | $13.56 |
| Suggested price | $3 | $8 | $14 |
A 100-set order of the 3 piece suite is a solid order, plus a design fee.
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- No design fee. Charge design and proofs once.
- Unlimited proofs. Include two rounds.
- Ignoring postage. Square and heavy invites cost more to mail.
- Rush orders at normal prices. Charge rush fees.
What you keep on each sales channel
The same flat wedding invitation at $3.00 leaves different money in your pocket depending on where it sells. This uses the $2.09 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) | $3.00 | $0.74 | $2.26 | $0.17 |
| Your own website (about 2.9% + $0.30) | $3.00 | $0.39 | $2.61 | $0.52 |
| Craft fair, card reader (2.6% + $0.15) | $3.00 | $0.23 | $2.77 | $0.68 |
| Craft fair, cash | $3.00 | $0.00 | $3.00 | $0.91 |
| Wholesale to a shop (50% of retail) | $1.50 | $0.00 | $1.50 | -$0.59 |
On Etsy, fees take about 25% of a $3.00 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 $0.59 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 wedding order of invitation suites, design and proofs takes about 2 hr at $20.00/hr. Charge that once per order, then spread it across the pieces. Materials are $3.30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $1.60 | $7.15 | $9.58 | $239.56 |
| 50 | $0.80 | $6.27 | $8.40 | $420.15 |
| 100 | $0.40 | $5.65 | $7.58 | $757.75 |
| 150 | $0.27 | $5.42 | $7.26 | $1,089.45 |
The price per piece falls from $9.58 to $7.26 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.
Invitation checklist
- Paper and printing.
- Envelopes.
- Inserts and extras.
- Assembly.
- Design fee.
- Overhead, profit and fees.
Price invitations
Type your paper, printing and time into the peach cells. The calculator shows cost and price.
Get the Invitation Pricing CalculatorCalculators that help
- Paper quotes: Quote paper orders. Use the Custom Paper Craft Quote Calculator.
- Cardstock yield: See pieces per sheet. Use the Cardstock and Sheet Yield Calculator.
- Design fees: Price design time. Use the Design & Setup Time Cost Calculator – Setup Fee, Proofs, Samples & Cost per Item.
- Deposits: Track deposits. Use the Custom Order Deposit & Balance Tracker – Deposits, Balances Due & Overdue Orders.
Common questions
How much should wedding invitations cost per set?
Many range from $3 to $10 or more per set. In this guide a flat invitation prices at about $3.
Should I charge a design fee?
Yes, once per order.
How many proofs?
Two rounds is common.
How do I price RSVP cards?
As add-on pieces per set.
Should I offer assembly?
Yes, as an option.
How far ahead do couples order?
Often three to four months before the wedding.
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