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How to price macrame

Macrame uses more cord than most people expect, since knots take up length fast. Most of the cost, though, is the hours of knotting.

1. Cord and materials

Measure the cord a finished piece actually uses. Cut lengths are often several times the finished length, depending on knot density. Multiply by your cost per foot or meter, including the trimmed fringe you throw away. Add dowels, driftwood, rings, beads and hanging hardware.

2. Labor

Time measuring and cutting cord, knotting, combing fringe, trimming and finishing. A dense wall hanging can take many times longer than a simple plant hanger, so price by design, not by size alone.

3. Overhead

A work rack or clothing rack, scissors, combs, and photography setup. Large wall hangings are awkward to photograph and ship, which adds time.

Platform and payment fees

Marketplaces usually take a percentage of each sale plus fixed per-order or per-listing charges, and payment processing is often separate. Fee schedules change, so read your platform's current fee page rather than trusting a number you saw once. Remember that fees are charged on the price the customer pays, so they grow as your price grows. Calculate them on your final price, not on your cost.

Choosing a markup

Once you know your true cost (materials + labor + overhead), multiply it to get a price. A common maker rule of thumb is wholesale at about 2× true cost and retail at about 2× wholesale, but that is a starting point, not a law. Check the result against what comparable products actually sell for, then decide whether your quality, story or speed justifies sitting above or below that range. If the price you need is far above what buyers pay, the fix is usually cost or time, not a smaller margin.

For custom sizes, quote from measured cord and timed knotting on a similar past piece, and collect a deposit before cutting expensive cord.

Worked example

Notice that the profit line comes after you've paid yourself for your time. That's the number that tells you whether this product is a business or a hobby.

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