Create a Custom Framing Cost Calculator in 4 Steps

Running a custom frame shop involves managing numerous details for every order — dimensions, material preferences, color choices, and glass types all need to be determined to provide an accurate price. 

Are you tired of manually calculating prices for each custom frame order? Are you looking for a tool that saves you time and reduces errors? A custom framing cost calculator can instantly generate accurate prices based on your customer’s preferences, saving you valuable time, reducing mistakes, and increasing efficiency.

Instead of manually managing these details and risking costly errors, streamline your operations and focus on what matters most: growing your business and satisfying your customers.

With the help of LifeSaver’s inventory management and pricing tools, you can create your own calculator to simplify your workflow and handle more orders.

Step 1: Define the Key Variables

With LifeSaver, you can easily manage and organize data on frame materials, glass types, matting options, and more. LifeSaver’s inventory manager helps you effortlessly keep track of all these details, ensuring your calculator stays updated with the latest costs and options. Key variables to consider for your custom framing cost calculator include:

• Object dimensions: Some objects, such as photos or flat artwork, are two-dimensional and only need a length and a height. However, larger or more complex memorabilia may require three-dimensional frames, meaning you must also include depth in the calculation. The larger the dimensions, the higher the labor and raw material costs.
  
  
• Frame material: Frame materials include wood, metal, and composite, each with its own price and quality level. For example, if your customer is looking for a wood frame, they might choose affordable pine, mid-range rosewood, or premium mahogany, depending on their budget and style preference.
  
  
• Matting options: Matting comes in different thicknesses — single, double, or triple — and the more layers you add, the higher the cost. Choosing specific colors or filters can raise the price even more.
  
  
• Glass type: The glass your clients choose for their custom frame affects its clarity and protection. Standard glass is the most affordable option but offers the least protection. 

If your customers want more protection, you can suggest pricier options like non-glare, UV-protective glass, shatter-resistant acrylic, or top-of-the-line museum glass for preservation.

• Mounting and backing: How artwork is mounted — whether it’s dry mounting, hinging, or float mounting — can affect the overall cost of the custom frame. You’ll also need to consider the backing materials, like foam core, acid-free board, or canvas. Each option secures the artwork differently and comes with its own price, so it’s important to include these details in your cost calculations.
  
  
• Labor costs: Labor costs mainly relate to the time spent building and assembling the frame. The more complicated the project, the more time and skill it requires, which means you can charge more.

Many customers like to add extras to their frames, like custom engraving, special paint, coatings, or protective seals. If you offer these services, factor in the costs for each add-on, along with your regular material and labor costs.

Step 2: Research Pricing for Materials and Labor

Staying up to date on raw material costs and labor rates is essential for accurate pricing. LifeSaver simplifies this process by providing access to vendor catalogs and current prices directly through its platform. With LifeSaver, you can quickly compare vendor prices, adjust your calculator’s inputs, and ensure you stay competitive.

• Check raw material costs: Regularly review the market prices for everything your shop needs — from frames and glass to matting and other components. Pay attention to price differences between vendors for similar materials. With tools like LifeSaver’s inventory manager, you can instantly bring up vendor catalogs and current costs, making it easy to keep your pricing accurate.
  
  
• Calculate labor rates: Start by determining the industry’s average hourly cost for professional framing. Then, use this as a baseline to adjust your shop’s labor rates based on your expertise and the complexity of each project. 

Step 3: Develop the Pricing Formula

Do you have a clear formula for calculating costs, or do you improvise each time? Develop a standardized formula that considers base material costs, labor, additional extras, and complex project multipliers to save time.

• Basic formula: Start by creating a simple formula that covers all the key cost factors in your custom framing project. A basic formula might look like this:

Total Cost = (Base Material Cost x Area) + Labor Cost + Additional Features

In this formula, the Base Material Cost is the total price of all materials used, and the Area is a multiplier based on the frame’s surface area. Labor Cost accounts for the time spent, and Additional Features cover any extras like special finishes or engravings.

• Cost multipliers: If the project is more complex — like when a customer requests premium materials or advanced techniques — apply a multiplier to the formula. For example, you can use a 1.2 multiplier to bump up the price by 20% to account for the extra work or higher-end materials.
  
  
• Discounts and promotions: To attract more customers, offer deals and discounts on bulk orders, repeat business, or seasonal promotions. To adjust the price, multiply the total cost by a number less than one. For instance, if you offer 10% off for a repeat order, use a 0.9 multiplier to lower the price.

Your calculator will apply the formula and any multipliers you’ve set to give you the pricing for each custom order. You can always tweak the numbers based on your shop’s financial goals or specific needs.

Step 4: Build and Launch the Calculator

If you’re comfortable with programming, you can build your own custom framing cost calculator using languages like Python or JavaScript. But if you’d rather keep it simple, you can create a web-based tool with something like Google Sheets. 

To make a calculator that is ready to launch on your website, take the following steps:

• Pick a programming language: If you have programming skills, you can create your own calculator. For a simpler approach, consider building a web-based tool with Google Sheets.
  
  
• Code the formula: Translate your pricing formula into code using your chosen programming language or platform. If you’ve changed the basic formula, ensure the code version reflects these changes to produce accurate estimates.
  
  
• Create a user-friendly design: Design clearly-labeled input fields for the dimensions, materials, and other options.
  
  
• Test the calculator: Ensure the calculator is easy to use, functional, accurate, and able to handle every possible custom frame combination. Address any bugs or issues that occur during testing and ensure it is functional on mobile devices.

If you want customers to access the calculator, you could embed it on your website, launch it as an app, or share a direct link. If you host it on your site, ensure the page is optimized for SEO with the right keywords and meta tags to help attract more visitors.

Simplify Framing Calculations With LifeSaver

Creating a custom framing cost calculator can save time, minimize errors, and boost your shop’s efficiency. By defining key variables, researching pricing, developing a formula, and building a custom tool, you’ll streamline your workflow and make pricing more accurate.

Using LifeSaver, you can easily gather customer data and vendor pricing to build your own calculator. Once it’s ready, launch it on your website to let customers explore materials and get accurate estimates instantly.

LifeSaver gives you the tools to manage inventory, track materials pricing, and build an accurate custom framing calculator. Try the 14-day free trial and see why so many frame shops trust LifeSaver.