Free calculator
Craft Fair Break-Even Calculator
How many pieces you must sell to cover the booth fee and the rest of the day, and how many it takes to make it worth going. Free, no sign-up.
- Booth fee$0
- Other costs of the day$0
- What the day costs$0
- Average price per piece$0
- Cost per piece$0
- Card fee per piece$0
- Each piece earns$0
- Profit at 0 pieces$0
Card fee example as of Oct 7, 2026, from Square's US fees page. Square's Free plan, tap, dip or swipe: 2.6% plus 15 cents. Type your own reader's rates.
How it works
What the day costs is the booth fee plus everything else the show takes: travel, parking, meals, organizer extras and a share of the tent and display you reuse.
Each piece earns its price minus its own cost and its share of card fees. The card fee per dollar of sales is the share paid by card times the percent fee plus the flat fee spread over an average customer's spend.
Pieces to break even is the day's cost divided by what each piece earns, rounded up to a whole piece. Pieces for your profit adds the profit you want to the day's cost first.
A worked example
A $150 booth fee becomes a $315.60 day once organizer extras, travel, parking, meals and a share of the display add $165.60. With an average price of $13.84, a cost of $7.30 a piece and 70% of sales by card on a 2.6% plus 15 cent reader, each piece earns $6.24. The day needs 51 pieces, $705.84 of sales, to break even, and 99 pieces, $1,370.16 of sales, to clear $300 of profit. These are the example show and products inside the Craft Fair Profit Calculator workbook.
Plan every show of the season
The Craft Fair Profit Calculator workbook uses this same maths for Excel and Google Sheets: every cost of the day itemized, up to 15 products with their own costs and sales mix, how many pieces to bring, a what-if table for six booth fees and a log for every show. $2.99, instant download.
Questions
How many items do I need to sell to cover a booth fee?
Divide what the whole day costs by what each piece earns after its own cost and card fees, then round up. Count the whole day, not only the booth: in the example, other costs add $165.60 to a $150 booth.
Should my making time be in the cost per piece?
Yes, if you want the day to pay you for it. Leave it out and break-even only covers materials and fees.
What card fee should I use?
The one your reader charges. As of Oct 7, 2026, Square's Free plan in the US charges 2.6% plus 15 cents for tap, dip or swipe payments.
Do sales include sales tax?
No. Use prices before sales tax. Tax you collect at a show is owed to the state, not earned.
Is this financial advice?
No. It is a planning estimate based on the numbers you enter.