Sewing & Quilting Quilting Cost Calculator
Created by: Liam Turner
Last updated:
Estimate quilt project cost and suggested pricing with material, labor, overhead, and profit margin inputs in one workflow.
Quilting Cost Calculator
SewingEstimate project cost and suggested quilt pricing
Cost Inputs
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What is a Quilting Cost Calculator?
A quilting cost calculator estimates total project cost and quote price by combining materials, labor, overhead, and profit margin.
It is useful for both custom quilt business pricing and personal project budgeting.
Quilting Cost Formulas
Labor Cost: Hours Worked × Hourly Rate
Subtotal Cost: Materials + Labor + Overhead
Profit Amount: Subtotal Cost × Profit Margin
Suggested Price: Subtotal Cost + Profit Amount
Example Calculation
If materials are $85, labor is 8 hours at $25, overhead is $20, and margin is 25%:
- Labor cost = 8 × 25 = $200
- Subtotal = 85 + 200 + 20 = $305
- Profit = 305 × 0.25 = $76.25
- Suggested quote = $381.25
Common Applications
- Custom quilt quotes: Price client projects consistently
- Craft fair inventory: Set profitable sale pricing
- Commission planning: Compare complexity against time budget
- Hobby budgeting: Forecast project spend before purchasing materials
Pricing Tips
- Track actual hours for at least three completed projects
- Separate direct materials from overhead for clearer pricing
- Review margins by quilt size and design complexity
- Recalculate rates periodically as costs change
Frequently Asked Questions
What should be included in quilt cost?
Material costs, quilting service fees, labor time, overhead, and profit margin are common components in quilting pricing.
How do I price labor fairly?
Track real hours and use a sustainable hourly rate. Include cutting, piecing, pressing, quilting, and finishing time.
Should I include machine wear and utilities?
Yes. Overhead helps cover blades, needles, maintenance, electricity, and studio costs.
What is a common profit margin for custom quilts?
Margins vary by market and complexity, but many makers target 15 to 40 percent above cost basis.
Can this be used for personal budget planning?
Yes. Set labor rate to zero if you only want out-of-pocket project cost estimates.
How does quilt size affect pricing?
Larger quilts usually increase material use, quilting pass length, and labor time, which raises total cost.
Should I round final quote amounts?
Most makers round to clean pricing tiers to simplify quoting and invoicing.
Sources and References
- Small craft business pricing frameworks and cost accounting basics
- Quilt guild business workshops on custom pricing models
- Maker market pricing studies and margin benchmarks