How to Price Repairs and Mending

To price repairs and mending, charge for your time at an hourly rate, add the cost of materials, and set a minimum charge so tiny jobs still pay. Write the result on a fixed price list so you quote the same job the same way every time.

This guide is for tailors and sewists who take in repairs alongside made-to-measure work. If you manage clients, orders and invoices in one place, the ZeDaq.ai tailor tools are built for that. The method below works with any system, even a notebook.

Why do repairs need their own pricing?

Repairs look small, but they cost you in ways that new-garment work does not. You inspect the item, work out what is wrong, and often unpick someone else's stitching.

Many tailors under-charge here because each job feels quick. A series of quick jobs still fills a day, and each one needs handling, tagging and pickup.

Treat repairs as their own service line, with its own prices, not as favors.

What is the basic formula?

Use this for any repair you have not priced before:

Price = (time in hours x your hourly rate) + materials + handling

• Time: include inspection and pressing, not just sewing.
• Hourly rate: the rate you need to cover your costs and pay yourself. Our guide to pricing tailoring work for profit shows how to work it out.
• Materials: thread, zip, patch fabric, buttons, interfacing.
• Handling: a small flat fee for intake, tagging and storage until pickup.

Always round up to a clean number. A quote of $18 is easier to say and pay than $17.35.

Can you walk through a worked example?

This is an example with made-up numbers, not a market rate. Replace them with your own.

Suppose your hourly rate is $30 and a customer brings a jacket with a broken zip.

1. Time: one hour to remove the old zip, fit the new one and press. That is $30.
2. Materials: the zip costs you $4.
3. Handling: a flat $3 for intake and storage.
4. Total: $37, which you might quote as $38.

If the zip takes you less time on a simple skirt, the quote falls. If it is a lined coat, the time rises. This is why a fixed list needs a "from" price.

How do you build a repair price list?

A list lets clients see your prices before they ask, which reduces haggling. Group repairs by type and show a "from" price:

Repair	How to price it
Replace a zip	Flat price by garment type (skirt, trousers, jacket, coat)
Patch a hole or tear	By size of the damage and the fabric
Sew on buttons	Per button, with a minimum
Fix a seam or split	Flat price per seam
Restitch a hem	Flat price per hem
Reline a jacket	Quote after inspection

Do not copy another tailor's list. Their rent, rate and fabric costs are not yours. If you want a rough local comparison, check what nearby shops publish and note the date you checked.

For fit changes rather than damage, see how to price alterations.

Should you set a minimum charge?

Yes. A minimum charge covers the fixed effort of taking in any item, however small.

Set it at the lowest amount that still makes a job worthwhile after you count handling. If a button repair would come to less than that, the minimum applies.

State the minimum on your price list and on any sign or booking page. Clients accept it more easily when they see it up front.

How do you quote jobs you cannot price at a glance?

Use a two-step quote. Inspect the item first, then give a price before you start.

Some tips that protect you:

• Write the quote on the order, and have the client confirm it before you begin.
• Say what the price does not include, such as extra damage found under the old stitching.
• Take a photo of the item at intake, so you can show its condition on pickup.

For repairs that must be done by a deadline, a surcharge is reasonable. See how to price rush orders for how to structure one.

How do you keep track of repair prices?

A price list only helps if you use it. Many tailors keep prices in a spreadsheet or their head, which leads to inconsistent quotes. Our comparison of ZeDaq.ai versus Excel for tailors shows what changes when orders, clients and invoices live in one app.

ZeDaq.ai includes a client CRM, orders with a delivery calendar, and invoicing in multiple currencies, including NGN, GBP and USD. There is also the ZeDaq Business mobile app for iOS and Android.

FAQs

How much should I charge to replace a zip?

It depends on your hourly rate, the garment and the zip cost. Use the formula above, then set a fixed price by garment type.

Should I charge for an estimate?

Most tailors give a free quote on simple jobs. For complex work like relining, you can charge an inspection fee and credit it to the repair if the client goes ahead.

What if the repair takes longer than I quoted?

Tell the client before you continue and get their approval for the extra cost. If you did not mention the risk at the quote, you may need to absorb it this time and adjust your pricing.

How often should I update my repair prices?

Review them whenever your costs change, and at least once a year. Check that your minimum charge still covers your handling effort.