Calculate quotes based on stitch count, garment cost, and digitizing fees.
Stitch Cost (Per Item):$0.00
Garment Cost w/ Markup (Per Item):$0.00
Subtotal (Per Item):$0.00
Total Digitizing/Setup:$0.00
Grand Total (Project):$0.00
Average Cost Per Unit (All Inclusive):$0.00
How to Price Commercial Embroidery
Accurate pricing is essential for running a profitable embroidery business. Unlike simple screen printing, embroidery pricing is heavily dependent on the "stitch count"—the number of stitches required to create the design—rather than just the number of colors. Our calculator helps you estimate quotes by breaking down the complexity of the design and the cost of the goods.
Key Pricing Factors
Stitch Count: The industry standard for pricing is typically based on units of 1,000 stitches. A complex logo on a left chest might range from 5,000 to 8,000 stitches, while a full jacket back could exceed 50,000 stitches.
Digitizing Fee: Before a design can be embroidered, it must be "digitized" into a format the machine can read (like DST or PES). This is usually a one-time fee charged to the customer for the setup work.
Garment Markup: Most shops purchase blank apparel at wholesale rates and apply a markup (typically 20% to 50%) to cover handling, shipping, and spoilage risks.
Quantity Breaks: Larger orders allow for more efficient machine utilization. It is common to lower the rate per 1,000 stitches or the garment markup as the total quantity of the order increases.
Using This Calculator
To use this tool effectively, you need an estimate of the stitch count. If you don't have digitizing software, a general rule of thumb for a solid 1-inch square of embroidery is approximately 2,000 stitches. Input your shop's rate per 1k stitches (often between $1.00 and $2.00 depending on volume), the cost of the blank item, and your desired markup percentage.
function calculateEmbroidery() {
// 1. Get input values by ID matches exactly
var stitchCount = parseFloat(document.getElementById("stitchCount").value);
var ratePer1k = parseFloat(document.getElementById("ratePer1k").value);
var garmentCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById("garmentCost").value);
var markupPercent = parseFloat(document.getElementById("markupPercent").value);
var quantity = parseFloat(document.getElementById("quantity").value);
var setupFee = parseFloat(document.getElementById("setupFee").value);
// 2. Validate inputs (Handle NaN and defaults)
if (isNaN(stitchCount) || stitchCount < 0) stitchCount = 0;
if (isNaN(ratePer1k) || ratePer1k < 0) ratePer1k = 0;
if (isNaN(garmentCost) || garmentCost < 0) garmentCost = 0;
if (isNaN(markupPercent) || markupPercent < 0) markupPercent = 0;
if (isNaN(quantity) || quantity < 1) quantity = 1;
if (isNaN(setupFee) || setupFee < 0) setupFee = 0;
// 3. Perform Calculations
// Calculate cost of embroidery per item: (Stitch Count / 1000) * Rate
var embroideryCostPerItem = (stitchCount / 1000) * ratePer1k;
// Calculate cost of garment with markup
var markupAmount = garmentCost * (markupPercent / 100);
var finalGarmentPrice = garmentCost + markupAmount;
// Subtotal per item (Garment + Embroidery Labor)
var subtotalPerItem = embroideryCostPerItem + finalGarmentPrice;
// Grand Total: (Subtotal * Quantity) + One-time Setup Fee
var grandTotal = (subtotalPerItem * quantity) + setupFee;
// Average cost per unit including the setup fee spread out
var avgCostPerUnit = grandTotal / quantity;
// 4. Update the DOM with results
document.getElementById("resStitchCost").innerText = "$" + embroideryCostPerItem.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resGarmentCost").innerText = "$" + finalGarmentPrice.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resPerItemSub").innerText = "$" + subtotalPerItem.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resSetupFee").innerText = "$" + setupFee.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resGrandTotal").innerText = "$" + grandTotal.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resAvgUnit").innerText = "$" + avgCostPerUnit.toFixed(2);
// Show result box
document.getElementById("results").style.display = "block";
}