Calculating the Cost

Hypothetically, let's say we're at my booth at some craft show. You and I are talking while you look at the items I have available. You find earrings that you love, and buy them for $25. As I'm packing up your purchase, you ask me "Why are your items so expensive?"

The answer, my friend, is simple: I spent time and money creating something. I add up those costs when pricing my items, and I do try to keep the prices reasonable. Let me walk you through the process.

these are estimated costs for general supplies:

• $3-$7 per hank of beads

• $2-$8 per yard for banding

• $2-$8 per pair of centers (if applicable)

• $2-$5+ per pack of needles

• $2-$20+ for thread (cones start at $20)

• $2-$7 per square foot of stabilizer

• $5-$25+ per square feet of backing (especially genuine leather)

• $10/hour of labor*

*Quick disclaimer: this is an unsustainable wage in 2026. Beaders can set their own rate based on their techniques and experience. This includes time spent designing and gathering (and sometimes) researching the supplies. Time spent actually creating your project. Packaging materials. Experience that comes from hours of experimentation and failures; weeks of frustration because something is not working and the needle just poked me AGAIN. Moments of pure joy because it's finally turning out the way I imagined it would. This is a moment of our life that we're giving to you. Please remember that.

When you add up the estimated costs of supplies it's $18 (on the low end). Now let's say that the earrings you bought took 1:45 hours to make; that would be $17.50. Cost of supplies and labor adds up to a grand total of $35.50 (and shipping's not included in that).

"If that's the case, how did you get $25? Aren't you losing money?"

Not necessarily; I keep track of the supplies that I buy and break down the costs based on how much I use. I've never been a mathlete, but I know these numbers well enough that the price you paid covers the materials in your earrings and the time I spent making them.

Higher priced items usually mean more time and/or more-expensive supplies went into them. The complexity or simplicity of a design is factored into the labor cost as more complex designs usually means more time put in compared to simpler ones.

I hope this helps you to understand more about the work that goes into beadwork. If you have any other questions, or want me to clarify something, let me know. I'm always happy to chat.

Miigwech (thank you).