To price machine embroidery, charge each placement a hooping fee plus your rate per 1,000 stitches (at least your minimum per placement), take off the quantity discount, then add the blank with your markup and round up. The order adds digitizing once, a small-order fee up to your minimum, shipping and sales tax, and you see your profit after fees and what you earn per hour.
Quote every embroidery job the same way
The Machine Embroidery Pricing Calculator workbook on Etsy uses the same math as this page and adds:
- Up to 6 placements per item, each with its own stitch count.
- A Stitch Estimator that turns the design width and height in inches into a stitch count for a first quote.
- A list of your blanks with what you paid, picked from a dropdown.
- A price list of the same job at 1, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 100 pieces, and a price chart by stitch count and quantity.
- A one-page customer quote and a Quote Log to keep every job.
One .xlsx file for Excel, plus a link to make your own copy in Google Sheets. Instant download.
Questions
How much should I charge per 1,000 stitches?
Many shops charge $1 to $2 per 1,000 stitches, plus a hooping fee per placement and a minimum per placement so a small monogram still pays for the setup. Type your own numbers and the price each updates as you type.
How do I price a hat with a logo on the front and a name on the back?
Each placement is priced on its own: hooping fee + stitches / 1,000 x your rate, at least your minimum per placement. In the example, 12 caps with a 6,500-stitch front and a 1,500-stitch back come to $24.00 each and $323.00 for the order, digitizing included.
Should digitizing be charged on every order?
Charge it once per design - as its own line or spread over the pieces - and waive it from a quantity you choose, for example 24 pieces or more. What you pay a digitizer is counted as a cost either way.
How do quantity discounts work here?
Five tiers that start at 1, 6, 12, 24 and 48 pieces, each with its own percent. The discount comes off the embroidery only, so your markup on the blank stays.
What if the customer brings their own item?
Pick "Customer brings the item" and a fee per piece is added instead of a blank with markup.
Good to know
- This free calculator prices one job with up to 3 placements and does not save anything.
- Fee rates and the example numbers are starting points; type your own.
Questions? Message us on Etsy.