How to Price Handmade Pottery
Pricing pottery requires accounting for all direct costs (materials, firing, labor) plus indirect costs (studio overhead, tool depreciation, loss from defects). A common formula is: (Materials + Labor + Firing + Overhead) x Markup = Retail Price.
Pricing Guidelines
- Retail markup: 2x-3x total cost is standard for direct-to-consumer sales
- Wholesale: Typically 50% of retail price (so you need at least 2x markup)
- Gallery/consignment: Gallery takes 40-50%, so price accordingly
- Always account for your loss rate - not every piece survives both firings