Laser Pricing 101: What to Charge for Engraving Tumblers
Why Smart Pricing Matters
Undersell and you stay busy yet broke. Price with method and every cup nudges you toward new gear, bigger orders, and a solid reputation.
Crunching the Core Costs
| Cost Line | What to Include | Quick Checks |
|---|---|---|
| Material & Tumbler Type | Blank + inbound shipping | Keep one "shop tumbler" for test burns |
| Design Complexity | One-side text, two-side logos, 360° wrap, micro-detail | Charge more as laser minutes rise. |
| Machine Time & Overhead | Power draw, lens wear, consumables, shop utilities. | |
| Labor & Setup | Artwork prep, jig load/unload, post-wipe | Protect yourself with a minimum labor charge. |
| Laser Depreciation | Purchase Price ÷ (Years × Annual Engraving Hours) | See table below. |
| Buffer | Mis-engraves, artwork tweaks | Add 5-10 % of the subtotal. |
Amortizing Your Laser Investment
| Rabbit Model | MSRP | Service Life (yrs) | Engraving hrs/yr | Depreciation $/hr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL-40-6040 | $6,295 | 5 | 1,500 | $.084 |
A 4-minute engrave = 0.067 hr → ≈ $0.06 depreciation per tumbler. Add this into Machine Time before markup.
Your Simple Pricing Formula
Total Price = (Material + Machine Time + Labor + Overhead) × Markup
Sample Math
$4 blank + $1.20 machine (inc. power & depreciation) + $2 labor + $0.50 overhead = $7.70.
$7.70 × 2.5 = $19.25 sell price
Flat Fee vs. Per-Minute (and Hybrid)
| Model | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Fee | Fast quotes, easy marketing | Risky if artwork varies |
| Per-Minute | Precision aligns price to time | Customers may balk at clock-watching |
| Hybrid | Base fee + time over X minutes | Needs clear explanation |
Always set a minimum charge to cover startup costs.
Volume Discounts That Still Pay
| Qty | Recommended Discount | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 10-49 | -15% setup fee | Jig stays loaded |
| 50-99 | -20% labor line | Less handling per cup |
| 100+ | -25% machine time | Overnight, lights-out runs |
Upsells & Add-Ons
Personalized names, gift boxes, and matching laser-cut coasters—small extras that add big margin.
Profit Safeguards
- Review costs yearly.
- Track true $ per laser-hour.
- Keep a five-cup “oops” stash for mis-engraves.
Quick Reference Price Table*
| Order Size | Simple Text | Logo Wrap | Add Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-9 | $19 | $23 | +$5 |
| 10-49 | $16 | $20 | +$4 |
| 50+ | $13 | $17 | +$3 |
*Adjust to your actual costs and desired markup.
Download Your Free Pricing Worksheet
Grab the editable spreadsheet and plug in your own numbers for instant margin checks. Download the worksheet
Ready to Turn Tumblers into Profit?
Whether you’re scaling up or just starting, a Rabbit Laser USA DL-40-6040 paired with one of our rotary attachments delivers calibrated accuracy, industrial-grade reliability, and U.S.-based support. Talk with our team today to launch—or level up—your tumbler-engraving business. 🐰
