No products in the cart.
Pricing handmade work can feel overwhelming.
Price too high and you worry no one will buy. Price too low and you can’t afford to keep creating.
Here’s the truth: when you make something by hand, you’re not just creating an object. You’re turning time, skill, and care into something tangible.
That has real value — and it’s okay to ask for what your work is worth.
When someone buys your handmade item, they’re paying for more than materials:
- The clay, thread, or wood you chose
- The hours your hands were busy creating
- The years it took to learn your craft
- Your workspace, electricity, and tools
- Time spent photographing, listing, and packaging
- The risk of making something new without knowing if it will sell
- Your ability to keep creating more pieces
This isn’t greed. It’s what it actually costs to make handmade work sustainable.
If numbers feel overwhelming, start with this basic formula:
Step 1: Add up your direct costs
Materials (clay, thread, wood, etc.)
Labor (your time × hourly rate)
Overhead (tools, workspace, packaging, shipping)
Step 2: Choose your hourly rate
Start with 50 shekels per hour — or more if you have specialized skills.
Step 3: Add Your Margin
Once you’ve totaled your materials, time, and overhead, add a small margin.
This covers your growth, reinvestment, and the unexpected costs that come with running a creative business.
Example:
Small ceramic bowl: 20 shekels in materials
1.5 hours of work × 50 shekels = 75 shekels labor
10 shekels for tools and overhead
Subtotal: 105 shekels
Add a 25% margin (for growth and profit): +26 shekels
Final price: 130 shekels (rounded for simplicity)
Your margin doesn’t have to be the same for every product. Some makers use 10–20% for smaller pieces and 30% or more for complex or custom work. The goal is to price your time, skill, and creativity with confidence — not hesitation.
Feel free to try our Pricing Calculator to see what your work is work
Your pieces weren’t made in a factory. They carry something no machine can replicate — the small variations that show a real person made them, the intention behind every choice.
People shopping on Shukily aren’t comparing your prices to mass production. They’re looking for something real and made with care. When your price reflects that honestly, it tells them your work matters.
A wedding ketubah isn’t just paper and ink. A baby blanket isn’t just yarn. A memorial candle isn’t just wax.
When your work carries ceremony, memory, or tradition, that emotional meaning has value. Don’t be afraid to include that in your pricing.
You don’t have to get pricing perfect immediately. As your skills improve and your costs change, your prices can change too.
Consider offering:
- Simpler pieces for people discovering your work
- Signature pieces for customers ready to invest in something special
This isn’t betraying anyone. It’s growth — and it’s natural.
Sometimes share what goes into your work. Not to justify your prices, but to help people appreciate what they’re choosing:
Each mug is thrown on my wheel, glazed by hand, and fired twice in my kiln. From wet clay to your table takes about two weeks.
This helps people see the care and intention behind what they’re buying.
Your time, skill, and creativity matter. The right customers will recognize that value and support it gladly. Those who don’t weren’t meant to be your customers anyway.
Price with respect for yourself and your craft. The world needs what you make — and you deserve to keep making it.