How to use the worksheet
- Materials: list everything that goes into one batch, with how much you used and what it cost you. Add them up to get A.
- Other costs: packaging, labels, and a share of power and equipment wear. That's B.
- Your time: minutes for the whole batch, divided by 60, times your hourly rate. That's C. Count photographing, listing and packing too.
- Cost of one item: add A, B and C, divide by the number of items, then add an allowance for pieces that fail. That's your true cost, E.
- Your price: add your markup to get F, what you want to keep. Selling on Etsy? The worksheet shows how to add the fees so they don't eat into F.
Worked example: six candles
- Materials A = $24.00; packaging B = $9.00; one hour at $15 = C = $15.00
- Cost of one candle: ($24 + $9 + $15) ÷ 6 = $8.00
- Plus 5% for failures: E = $8.40
- Doubled (100% markup): F = $16.80 to keep
- US Etsy fees: ($16.80 + $0.45) ÷ 0.905 = $19.06 to charge, and $8.40 profit per candle
Why your time is on the sheet
Most makers leave their own time out and end up working for nothing. If you'd have to pay someone else to make, photograph and pack your work, it's a cost, so it goes in before the markup. The markup is your profit on top, not your wages.
FAQs
Is the worksheet free?
Yes. Enter your email and we send the PDF straight away, in US Letter and A4.
Do I have to sign up for anything?
No. Maker tips by email are optional, and you only join after clicking a confirm link. Without that, we don't email you again.
Does it work for things other than candles?
Yes: soap, jewellery, resin, 3D prints, sewing and anything else you make in batches. Set items made to 1 for one-off pieces.
More calculators for makers
- 3D Print Cost Calculator: Filament, electricity, printer wear, labour and Etsy fees, with a suggested selling price.
- Candle Wax & Fragrance Calculator: How much wax and fragrance oil to use, cost per candle and a selling price after Etsy fees.
- Epoxy Resin Calculator: How much resin and hardener to mix for coasters, trays, art and moulds, with cost per piece.
- Quilt Backing Calculator: Backing, batting and binding yardage for any quilt size, with the seam layout that wastes least.
- Etsy Fee Calculator (US): Every Etsy fee on a sale, your profit and margin, and the price to charge for the profit you want.
- Etsy Fee Calculator UK: Etsy fees for UK sellers in pounds, with VAT on fees and the regulatory operating fee.