Free Artist Alley Table Break-Even & Pricing Calculator

Free for artist alley sellers: 2027 Artist Alley Deadlines page (29 cons, verified sources) | free Break-Even Quick Sheet (printable) | free 2027 deadlines sheet (xlsx + PDF).

1. Show costs

Table fee ($) Badges / extra helper badge ($) Hotel ($) Travel: gas, parking, flights ($) Food ($) Display, bags, signs, other supplies ($)

Product costs Inventory you bought for this show ($) Average cost to make one item ($) How to count product costs

2. Prices and fees

Average item price ($)

Card processing Card fee % (e.g. 2.6) Card fee per sale ($, e.g. 0.15) Share of sales paid by card (%) Average items per sale

Sales tax My sign prices include sales tax Sales tax rate (%)

Tax you collect is not your money: it goes to the state. If your prices already include tax, tick the box and enter the rate so it is taken out before your income is counted. If you add tax on top at checkout, leave the box unticked. Rules vary by state and event; check yours.

3. Sales goal

Items you expect to sell

Results

items to sell to break even

Show costs (table, badge, hotel, travel, food, supplies)
Inventory counted up front
Total costs before sales
Price after removing tax
Card fees per item (average)
Product cost per item counted
You keep per item
Sales needed to break even (at sign price)

At your sales goal

Sales (at sign price)
Sales tax to set aside
Card fees
Product costs
Show costs
Profit (before income tax)

Price markup helper

Cost to make one item ($) Markup multiplier (e.g. 3 = 3x cost) Target margin after card fees (%)

Price at your multiplier
Price to keep your target margin after card fees
Rounded up to a whole dollar

The margin price uses your card fee %, per-sale fee and items per sale from step 2. Round to prices that are easy to make change for.

Next step: once you know your break-even, plan how many of each item to bring with the free Artist Alley Inventory Quantity Planner.

How to use it

Enter every cost for the weekend. Table fee, any extra badges, your share of the hotel, gas or flights, parking, food and small supplies like bags and signs. Leave anything you don't have at 0.
Pick how to count stock. If your prints and stickers will sell at later shows, choose "per item sold" and enter the average cost to make one item. If you bought stock just for this show, choose "full inventory spend".
Enter your average price and card fees. Use your own processor's current rate (for example 2.6% + 15 cents per tap). Set how many sales are by card and how many items people buy at once.
Handle sales tax. If your sign prices include tax, tick the box and enter the rate. Tax you collect is set aside, not counted as income.
Read the results. The big number is how many items you need to sell to cover costs. Enter a sales goal to see profit, then use the markup helper to check your prices.

Your numbers save in this browser only. Estimates only: your real fees, tax rules and sales will differ.

FAQ

How many items do I need to sell to break even at an artist alley?

Add up every cost for the show (table, badge, hotel, travel, food, supplies), then divide by what you keep from each sale after card fees and the cost to make the item. This calculator does that math for you and rounds up to whole items.

Should I count my whole print order as a show cost?

If the stock will sell at later shows, count only the cost of what you sell (the per-item cost). If you bought stock just for this one show and won't reuse it, switch the product cost option to count the full inventory spend.

Do card fees really matter?

Yes. A fee like 2.6% plus 15 cents per tap takes about 18 cents from a $1 sticker but only about 41 cents from a $10 print, so cheap items lose a bigger share. Enter your own processor's current rate.

What about sales tax?

Rules depend on your state and the event. Many shows require a temporary seller's permit. If your sign prices include tax, tick the box so the calculator removes the tax part before counting your income. Check your state's rules; this is not tax advice.

What markup should I use?

Many sellers start around 3x the cost to make an item and adjust for size, time and what sells. The markup helper shows both a simple multiplier price and the price needed to keep a target margin after card fees.

Track the real numbers at the show

Made by LB3 Trackers with AI assistance. Instant digital downloads.

Artist Alley Inventory & Sales Tracker ($5): count stock, log sales and see profit per show. Etsy | Payhip
Artist Alley Application & Restock Planner ($5): track applications, deadlines and what to reprint. Payhip
AA & Convention Seller Bundle ($19): the convention seller trackers together. Payhip
Need a tracker built for your table? Custom tracker service

Free: Break-Even Quick Sheet | 2027 Artist Alley Deadlines sheet | 2027 deadlines page

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