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How to price cookies
Drop cookies and bars
Chocolate chip, oatmeal and brownies are fast to make in big batches, so ingredients matter more. Cost a batch, divide by the yield, add packaging and a 50–100% markup. Common ranges are $12–$30 per dozen depending on size and ingredients.
Decorated sugar cookies
Royal-icing cookies are mostly labor. Time yourself: outlining, flooding, drying and detailing can take 5–15 minutes per cookie. At $15/hour, 8 minutes per cookie is $2 of labor before ingredients.
| Style | Decorating time | Typical price each |
|---|---|---|
| Simple flood, 1–2 colours | 3–5 min | $2.50–$4 |
| Detailed piping, 3–5 colours | 6–10 min | $4–$6 |
| Custom characters, lettering, airbrush | 10–20 min | $6–$10+ |
Don't forget
- Heat-sealed bags, ribbons and stickers ($0.20–$0.60 each).
- Custom cookie cutters you buy for one order — charge them to that order.
- A minimum order (often one dozen) and a deposit for custom work.
Run your own numbers
FAQ
How much should I charge for a dozen decorated cookies?
Decorated sugar cookies usually sell for about $36–$72 per dozen, depending on detail. Time your decorating per cookie and price labor accordingly.
What markup should I use for cookies?
Many bakers use 50–100% on top of full cost for simple cookies, because batch sizes are large and ingredient costs are low per cookie.