Jewelry Pricing Calculator — Wholesale and Retail Price for Handmade Jewelry
Price handmade jewelry with the classic formula: materials plus labor plus overhead gives your cost, × 2 for wholesale and × 2 again for retail — with the profit per piece at each price.
How it works
Cost = materials + hours × hourly rate + overhead % · Wholesale = cost × wholesale multiplier (2) · Retail = wholesale × retail multiplier (2)
The most widely taught jewelry pricing formula pays you for materials and time, adds a share for overhead, then doubles the cost for a wholesale price that leaves room for profit, and doubles again for retail — the keystone markup shops use. Pricing your own retail sales at the full retail price protects the shops that carry your work and leaves room for discounts and sales fees. Fine-jewelry makers using precious metals often apply a lower multiplier to the metal and a higher one to labor.
Worked example
A pendant uses $18.00 of materials and 1.5 hours at $25 an hour ($37.50). With 10% overhead ($5.55) the cost is $61.05. Wholesale = $61.05 × 2 = $122.10 and retail = $122.10 × 2 = $244.20, earning $183.15 profit per piece sold at retail.
Sources: Patriot Software — How to price a product (cost-plus and markup pricing)
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula for pricing handmade jewelry?
A common formula is (materials + labor + overhead) × 2 = wholesale, and wholesale × 2 = retail. Some makers use materials × 3 + labor, but including overhead and paying yourself an hourly rate makes the price sustainable.
How much should I pay myself per hour?
Use a rate you would accept for skilled work in your area — often 15–35 per hour for makers. Paying yourself nothing makes prices look attractive but leaves no business when orders grow.
Why is retail double the wholesale price?
Shops that buy wholesale need to cover their own rent, staff and profit, so they usually double the wholesale price (keystone markup). If you sell directly, you keep that margin to pay for your own sales costs such as market fees, platform fees and photos.
How do I price gold or silver jewelry?
Price precious metal at the current market value per gram plus a fabrication markup, and recalculate when metal prices move. Use the weight in grams and a metal value calculator for the materials line.
Related calculators
Planning estimate only — real prices, fees and results depend on your own costs, platform terms, local taxes and what your market will pay. Check the numbers against your books before you commit to a price or budget.