How to Price Your Pottery (Without Selling Yourself Short)

# How to Price Your Pottery (Without Selling Yourself Short) Every potter hits this wall: you've made something beautiful, someone wants to buy it, and you have no idea what to charge. Charge too little and you're working for free. Charge too much and it sits on the shelf. Here's how to find the sweet spot. ## The Real Cost Formula **Materials + Time + Overhead + Profit = Price** ### 1. Materials Clay, glaze, kiln electricity/gas, tools that wear out. Track everything for a month and divide by pieces produced. A rough guide: - Clay: $0.50-$2 per piece (depending on size and clay cost) - Glaze: $0.25-$1 per piece - Firing: $1-$5 per piece (kiln share) ### 2. Your Time This is where most potters undervalue themselves. Throwing, trimming, glazing, loading/unloading, packaging - it all counts. Pick an hourly rate you'd accept for skilled labor. $20/hr is a bare minimum. $35-$50 is reasonable for experienced makers. ### 3. Overhead Studio rent, insurance, website, packaging materials, show fees. Add these up monthly and divide across your output. ### 4. Profit Margin This isn't your wage - it's what keeps your business growing. Add 20-30% on top. ## The Quick Multiplier Method If math isn't your thing: - **Materials cost x 4** = wholesale price - **Wholesale x 2** = retail price A mug that costs $3 in materials = $12 wholesale = $24 retail. ## Common Pricing Mistakes 1. **Comparing to Target/Amazon** - Mass production is not your competition 2. **Charging what you'd pay** - You're not your customer 3. **Pricing by size alone** - A tiny detailed cup can be worth more than a large bowl 4. **Dropping prices when things don't sell** - Try better photos or different venues first ## The Confidence Factor Pricing is emotional. But remember: people who value handmade work expect to pay for it. Your prices communicate quality. Start tracking your costs in The Potter's Mud Room and you'll have real numbers to back up your prices.