How to cost a bespoke garment
By Olusegun Osunrinde, Founder, Sentralbee · 4 October 2026
To cost a bespoke garment, add five things: every material at the price you paid, the fabric you cut away as waste, the hours it takes multiplied by what an hour costs you, running costs like fuel and delivery, then divide by one minus the margin you want. That gives you a price that pays you, not just the fabric seller.
The short version
Most tailors price from the fabric. The fabric is only part of the cost. The rest hides in trims, offcuts, hours and the fuel that keeps the machines running.
Here is a method that works for any bespoke piece.
1. List every material
Write down everything that goes into one piece, at the price you actually paid:
- Main fabric, by the yard
- Lining and interfacing
- Thread, including embroidery thread
- Buttons, zips, hooks
- Labels and packaging
If you bought a roll of thread for many orders, divide its price by roughly how many pieces it lasts.
2. Count the waste
The offcut on the floor was paid for. Add it. Measure what you cut away for a few orders and add that share to every quote.
3. Add your time
Count the hours: cutting, sewing, embroidery, fittings, finishing. Multiply by what an hour costs you.
If you pay a tailor per piece, use what you pay them. If it's you, decide what you want to earn in a month and divide by the hours you work.
4. Add running costs
These are easy to forget:
- Fuel and power for the machines and generator
- Delivery or a rider
- Packaging and garment bags
Spread monthly costs across the orders you make in a month.
5. Add it up
Here is an example agbada:
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Aso-oke, 4.5 yards | ₦27,000 |
| Lining | ₦6,500 |
| Embroidery thread | ₦3,200 |
| Buttons | ₦1,800 |
| Tailoring, 14 hours | ₦12,000 |
| Delivery and box | ₦3,500 |
| Offcut | ₦4,300 |
| True cost | ₦58,300 |
If you quoted ₦55,000, you lost ₦3,300 on this order. Most of it came from the two lines people forget: delivery and the offcut.
6. Set a price that pays you
Pick the margin you need to keep. Then:
Price = true cost ÷ (1 − margin)
For a 30% margin: ₦58,300 ÷ 0.7 = ₦83,286. Round it to ₦83,500.
That may feel high. It's what this piece costs you to make well. If the market won't pay it, look for savings in the materials or the hours, not in your own pay.
7. Check it again when prices change
Fabric prices move. A price that worked in January can lose money by June. Re-cost your best sellers whenever you buy at a new price.
Doing this every time
You can do all of this in a notebook. It takes time, and it goes stale when prices change.
Sentralbee does the maths for every product. Add your materials once, and each product's cost updates when a price changes. If a product now sells below cost, the Bee tells you and suggests a fairer price.
Try it on one piece with the free true cost calculator, or book a free Clarity Review and we'll cost it with you.
Questions
How much fabric allowance should I add for waste?
It depends on the pattern and the fabric width. Weigh or measure your offcuts for a few orders and use your own average. Many tailors find it is more than they guessed.
Should I charge for my own time if I work alone?
Yes. If you don't, your price only covers materials, and you work for free. Decide what you want to earn a month and divide it by the hours you work.
How big should my deposit be?
Enough to cover the materials before you cut. Many fashion houses take 70% up front and the rest at collection.