This crochet pricing calculator adds up your yarn, supplies and hours, then applies a markup to suggest a fair selling price. It is built for makers selling blankets, amigurumi, hats and bags at craft fairs, on Etsy or to friends, who are tired of guessing a number and then realising they earned two dollars an hour.
Price = (materials + hours × wage) × (1 + markup). Other supplies and markup are optional and count as zero when blank. It does not include marketplace fees, shipping or sales tax, which vary by platform and country. A planning aid, not business or tax advice.
How the Crochet Pricing Calculator Works
Every handmade price has three parts: what you spent on materials, what your time is worth, and a margin on top for overheads such as hooks, stitch markers, electricity, photos and the items that never sell. The crochet pricing calculator totals the first two, then applies your markup percentage. It also shows your effective hourly rate, which is the money left for your time after materials are paid for. If that number looks low, the price is too low.
Formula: Materials = Yarn cost + Other supplies. Labor = Hours × Hourly wage. Cost before markup = Materials + Labor. Price = Cost before markup × (1 + Markup ÷ 100). Effective hourly = (Price − Materials) ÷ Hours. This crochet price formula keeps labor visible instead of hiding it inside a vague multiple of yarn cost.
- Yarn cost — the price of the yarn actually used. If you used 1.5 skeins at $6, enter $9, not the full bag.
- Other supplies (optional) — stuffing, safety eyes, buttons, zips, labels, tags and packaging for this one piece.
- Hours to make — real working time including blocking, sewing on parts and weaving in ends. Use quarter hours if you like.
- Hourly wage — what you want to earn per hour. Many makers start at their local minimum wage and raise it as they get faster.
- Markup (optional) — a percentage added to the whole cost to cover overheads and profit. Leave it blank to see the price at cost.
Example Scenarios
| Item | Yarn + supplies | Hours × wage | Markup | Suggested price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amigurumi bear | $8 + $4 | 6 × $15 | 20% | $122.40 |
| Baby blanket | $30 + $0 | 15 × $15 | 20% | $306.00 |
| Throw blanket | $60 + $0 | 40 × $12 | 15% | $621.00 |
| Beanie with pom-pom | $7 + $3 | 3 × $15 | 25% | $68.75 |
| Cotton market bag | $12 + $0 | 5 × $18 | 10% | $112.20 |
How to Price Crochet Items Without Underselling
The numbers in the table often surprise people, especially the blankets. That is the honest answer to how much to charge for a crochet blanket: a throw that takes 40 hours is a $600 item at a modest wage. You do not have to charge that, but you should know it before you decide to discount.
- Time yourself. Use a phone stopwatch for one full project. Most makers underestimate hours by a third or more, and the crochet pricing calculator is only as good as the hours you enter.
- Price amigurumi by size and detail. Amigurumi pricing usually works best in tiers, such as small, medium and large, each with a measured average time, rather than quoting every animal from scratch.
- Count the whole yarn cost for custom colours, since leftovers in an odd shade rarely get used.
- Add selling costs separately. Market stall fees, card reader charges and online marketplace fees are not in this formula, so raise the markup or add them as supplies.
- Do not race to the bottom. Matching the cheapest listing online trains buyers to expect machine-made prices for handmade work.
If a price feels too high for your market, change the design rather than your wage: thinner yarn, fewer colour changes or a smaller size all cut hours. Income tax and sales tax rules for hobby sellers differ by country and year, so check local guidance once sales become regular. For background on stitches, history and techniques, read Wikipedia’s article on crochet.
Crochet Pricing Calculator FAQ
What is the usual crochet price formula?
A common formula is materials plus hours times an hourly wage, plus a markup for overheads and profit. Some sellers use three times the yarn cost instead, but that ignores how long a piece takes. Pricing time directly gives fairer results for slow, detailed work such as amigurumi or lace shawls.Is this crochet pricing calculator free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, no app download and no limit on how many items you price. It runs in your browser on a phone or computer, so you can check a price at a craft fair table. Nothing you type is stored, so enter real costs without worrying about privacy.Can I use it in the UK, India or the Philippines?
Yes. The math works in any currency even though the display shows a dollar sign. Enter costs and your wage in pounds, rupees or pesos and read the result in the same currency. Pick a wage that reflects your local market, then adjust the markup to match what buyers there pay.How much should I charge per hour for crochet?
Many makers start at their local minimum wage and raise it as skill and speed improve. Experienced designers selling custom work often charge more. The key is to choose a number on purpose, then check the effective hourly figure to make sure fees and materials have not quietly eaten it.What markup should I use for handmade items?
A markup of 10% to 30% on top of materials and labor is a reasonable starting range for covering tools, packaging, photos and unsold stock. Wholesale buyers expect a lower price than retail, so if you sell to shops, make sure your wholesale price still covers your full cost before any markup.Should I charge less for simple patterns?
Charge less only because they take less time, not because they feel easy. A simple beanie that takes three hours still uses three hours of your life. Enter the real hours and the price follows naturally. You can offer a lower price for repeat designs once you have become faster at them.Related Calculators
Want a better starting wage? The freelance rate calculator for setting an hourly rate works out what you need per hour to hit an income goal. The break-even calculator for small sellers shows how many pieces cover a market stall fee, and the salary to hourly calculator turns a yearly target into a wage to enter in the crochet pricing calculator.