How Much to Charge for Embroidery – Per Stitch

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Short answer: Most shops price embroidery per 1,000 stitches with quantity breaks, plus a one-time digitizing fee and the garment cost. A typical left-chest logo is 5,000–8,000 stitches. Build your rate from machine time (stitches ÷ speed × heads), labor, thread and backing, then add your margin — and charge more for small runs and specialty threads.

Pricing building blocks

Cost	How to estimate
Machine time	Stitch count ÷ realistic speed (e.g. 700 spm) + hooping and trims
Thread	A 5,500 yd Polyneon cone ($10.35) sews many logos — cents per piece
Backing	Pre-cut sheet per piece (e.g. no-show mesh)
Needles & bobbins	Small, but count them
Digitizing	One-time setup per logo
Labor & overhead	Hooping, trimming, packing, rent

Example

A 6,000-stitch left-chest logo at ~700 spm is roughly 9 minutes of sewing per head before hooping. On a 4-head Happy you sew four at once — that is why multi-head machines change your per-piece cost. Set minimums and charge extra for metallic thread, 3D puff and caps.

Madeira Polyneon #40 Cone (5,500 yd) Black

$10.35

Madeira E-ZEE Weblon No-Show Mesh 1.5 oz

$32.95

Madeira Paper-Sided L Bobbins (144) White

$41.95

FAQ

What is a normal price per 1,000 stitches?

It varies by market and quantity; build yours from your own machine time and costs, then compare locally.

How many stitches is a left-chest logo?

Commonly 5,000–8,000 stitches.

Should I charge for digitizing?

Yes — most shops charge a one-time setup fee per logo, often waived on large orders.

Do multi-head machines lower cost?

Yes, they sew several pieces at once, cutting machine time per piece.

Talk to the embroidery team at Buckets of Ink — Tempe, AZ, since 1981. Authorized Madeira and Happy Japan dealer. Ask about our discounts, starter supply packages and great financing on Happy machines — we'll help you get into your next machine. Build a quote · Call (480) 229-7806 · Showroom: 906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101, Tempe AZ 85281 (local pickup + free weekly Phoenix-metro delivery on supply orders).

Related guides: Digitizing basics · Startup costs · Happy financing