Stained Glass Pricing Calculator
Price custom stained glass panels, transoms, and suncatchers: enter dimensions, glass sheet cost with scrap waste allowance, copper foil, solder rolls, and cutting/grinding/soldering hours.
Display only — amounts are not converted between currencies.
Dimensions, glass and soldering
Recommended piece price
$460.82
- Total project cost
- $223.50
- Recommended price
- $460.82
- Profit
- $207.37
- Profit margin
- 45.0%
- Price per sq ft
- $345.62
- Glass area (sq ft)
- 1.33
Cost breakdown
| Art glass + scrap buffer | $40.00 |
|---|---|
| Foil, solder & chemicals | $19.50 |
| Framing & hardware | $8.00 |
| Labor (6 hrs) | $150.00 |
| Studio overhead | $6.00 |
| Fees | $29.95 |
Printed · Craft Pricing Tools · CraftPricingTools.com
Recommended piece price
$460.82
When to use this calculator
This calculator calculates accurate custom quotes for stained glass suncatchers, window panels, and leaded glass art.
It factors in art glass cost per square foot, pattern cutting scrap waste (20%–35%), copper foil tape, 60/40 solder spools, chemical patina/flux, framing came, and grinding/soldering hours.
It provides total project quotes and effective rates per square foot.
How this calculator works
How we calculate stained glass pricing
- Glass area = (width × height) ÷ 144 (sq ft)
- Glass cost = area × cost per sq ft × (1 + scrap waste %)
- Consumables = copper foil + 60/40 solder + chemical patina/flux + came/hardware
- Labor cost = (cutting/grinding hours + foiling/soldering hours) × hourly rate
- Total cost = materials + consumables + labor + studio overhead
- Selling price = total cost ÷ (1 − margin % − fee %)
- Price per sq ft = selling price ÷ glass area
Example
Example: 12×16 inch geometric stained glass panel
12×16 inch panel (1.33 sq ft). Premium cathedral/opalescent glass at $24.00/sq ft with 25% cutting waste ($40.00). Copper foil and solder $16.00. Zinc came frame $8.00. 3 hrs cutting/grinding, 3 hrs foiling/soldering at $25/hr ($150.00 labor). $6.00 studio overhead, 45% margin, 6.5% fee.
- Glass materials with 25% scrap allowance cost $40.00.
- Foil, solder, patina, and zinc came cost $27.50.
- Skilled artisan labor is $150.00 across 6 crafting hours.
- Total production cost is $223.50.
- Recommended retail price is $460.82 ($345.62 per sq ft).
How much should I charge?
Small suncatchers (4–8 in, 5–15 pieces): $35.00–$85.00.
Medium geometric window panels (12–18 in, 20–50 pieces): $250.00–$500.00 ($180–$300/sq ft).
Intricate custom commission panels (100+ pieces with curved cuts): $500.00–$1,200+ ($350–$650+/sq ft).
Pricing tips
- Always add 20% to 35% scrap allowance for glass: curved and deep inside cuts generate unavoidable waste.
- Keep grinder diamond bits fresh: a worn bit slows down shaping and leads to chipped edges.
- Use reinforcing zinc came or braided copper re-strip along internal seams on large hanging panels to prevent hinge joints.
Common mistakes
- Underestimating soldering time: applying clean, raised rounded bead solder lines on both sides takes significant time.
- Forgetting chemical patina, flux, neutralizing wash, and finishing wax costs.
- Pricing based purely on dimensions without counting total individual glass pieces.
FAQ
How much should I charge per square foot for stained glass?
Simple geometric panels range from $150 to $250 per square foot. Detailed multi-piece panels with complex cuts sell for $300 to $600+ per square foot.
How much solder is used per stained glass project?
A typical 1 sq ft copper foil panel uses roughly 0.5 to 0.75 lbs of 60/40 or 50/50 solder ($10–$18 in solder alone).
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