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How to price your sewing work

Price = your materials + your time at an hourly rate you set + a share of your running costs. Most home sewists undercharge because they only count the fabric and thread.

What goes into a price

Pick an hourly rate first

Decide what one hour of your work must earn. Work backwards from the monthly income you need and the hours you can really sew, and remember that not every hour you work is a paid hour.

Then work out the job

  1. Estimate the hours. Time your jobs for a few weeks so you are not guessing.
  2. Multiply hours by your rate.
  3. Add materials and a small amount for running costs.
  4. Check the total divided by your real hours. If it is below your rate, the price is too low.

When a client pushes back

Show the breakdown instead of defending a number. Offer to change the job (simpler fabric, fewer details) rather than your hourly rate.

Try it in Sewwren: the Pricing calculator takes your costs and hours and gives you a price and a client-ready quote.

Quick check

1. What should a price include besides fabric and thread?
2. A quote works out to less per hour than your target rate. What should you do first?
3. Why time your jobs for a few weeks?
Open in Sewwren: Pricing calculator
Next lesson: How to get your first sewing customers ›