Why Handmade Costs More — And Why It’s Worth It
Let’s be honest — handmade items often cost more than mass-produced stuff. We’ve all been there: you're wandering through a farmers market feeling like Rory Gilmore, admiring quirky knick-knacks, candles, soaps, maybe even a handcrafted back scratcher. Then you spot the price tag:
$35 for canine kombucha?!
You stare, panic slightly, and tell the booth owner, “I’ll be back!” before speed-walking away like you’re fleeing a crime scene.
So... was that kombucha overpriced? Maybe. But not everything with a handmade label is out to empty your wallet. Let me walk you through what goes into pricing something I make myself — like a maple and walnut engraved cutting board.
The Truth About Material Costs
Let’s start with the wood.
In my area, walnut goes for about $12.50 per board foot. (A board foot = 12" long × 12" wide × 1" thick — yes, it’s that random math unit from middle school.) Maple is a little cheaper, around $8.00 per board foot.
Just for materials alone, a single cutting board costs about $30 before I even touch it — no cutting, planing, jointing, or gluing yet. That’s the raw cost of good-quality wood.
Sure, I could use cheaper walnut. Or skip the walnut and just use maple. But here’s the deal: I’m building a business on quality and reputation, not cutting corners. If I wouldn’t proudly use the board in my own kitchen, I won’t sell it. I want the things I make to last for years in your home, not fall apart in a season.
Labor Is More Than Just Time
Next up is labor — the part where the maker actually makes the thing.
Let’s say the wood is straight, no warping or knots. Even in the best-case scenario, building a board takes a few hours (plus glue-up and drying time). That doesn’t include sanding, shaping, engraving, oiling, or finishing.
Now, imagine someone shipping you a box of raw lumber and handing you IKEA-style instructions that say: "You got this!"
But the real value of handmade isn't just the hours spent on each item — it’s also the years of learning that come before it. Whether it’s woodworking, candle-making, jewelry design, or embroidery, every craft takes time to master.
You don’t see the dozen failed prototypes, the midnight mistakes, or the YouTube rabbit holes of tutorials and tool demos. You just see the finished product.
Ten years ago, if I had walked into a garage and tried to make a cutting board, I’d probably have ended up a Florida Man headline.
Skill Has Value
We accept this truth in most other jobs: the longer someone’s been doing it, the more their skill is worth. It’s no different for makers. You’re not just buying a board or a candle — you’re buying craftsmanship, time, and the ability to make it look easy (when it definitely wasn’t).
So yes, handmade is often more expensive. But when you understand what’s behind it — the materials, the labor, the trial and error — it starts to make a lot more sense. And if I do my job right, you’ll end up with something that lasts, feels good in your hands, and tells a better story than anything mass-produced ever could.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.
