Print cost calculator for flex printing

Wrong pricing kills profit. Many print shops guess rates or copy competitors. This leads to loss on some jobs and confusion on others.

You need a simple system to calculate cost per square foot and set the right price every time.

Why flex printing cost calculation matters

Material prices change

Ink usage varies

Machine cost is ignored

Labour is not included

Without a proper formula, you underprice or overprice.

Basic formula for flex printing cost

Use this simple structure:

Cost per sq ft =

Material cost + Ink cost + Machine cost + Labour cost + Overhead

Then add your profit margin.

Step by step calculation

1. Material cost

Example:

Flex material roll cost ₹10,000

Total printable area 1,000 sq ft

Material cost per sq ft = ₹10

2. Ink cost

Estimate average ink usage:

Ink cost per sq ft = ₹2 to ₹5 depending on quality

Use ₹3 for normal jobs.

3. Machine cost

Include:

Electricity

Maintenance

Depreciation

Typical:

₹2 to ₹4 per sq ft

Use ₹3 for calculation.

4. Labour cost

Include:

Operator

Helper

Example:

₹2 per sq ft

5. Overhead cost

Include:

Rent

Admin

Misc

Example:

₹2 per sq ft

Total cost example

Material ₹10

Ink ₹3

Machine ₹3

Labour ₹2

Overhead ₹2

Total cost = ₹20 per sq ft

Add profit margin

Add 20 percent to 40 percent based on your market.

Example:

₹20 + 30 percent = ₹26 per sq ft selling price

Common pricing mistakes

Ignoring machine cost

Not including labour

Copying competitor pricing

No standard formula

Different pricing for same job

Fix these to improve profit.

How to handle different job types

Normal flex printing

Use standard formula

High quality printing

Increase ink cost

Bulk orders

Reduce margin slightly

Urgent jobs

Increase price

Real example

Customer needs 200 sq ft banner.

Cost per sq ft ₹20

Total cost ₹4,000

Selling price ₹26 per sq ft

Total ₹5,200

Profit ₹1,200

Clear pricing avoids confusion and negotiation.

Why manual calculation fails

Time consuming

Error prone

No consistency

Hard to scale

You need a system or calculator.

Use a flex printing cost calculator

A simple tool can:

Auto calculate cost

Save pricing templates

Convert to quotation

Link with order system

This saves time and improves accuracy.

Daily workflow you should follow

Enter job size

Auto calculate cost

Add margin

Generate quote

Convert to order

This keeps pricing consistent across all jobs.

Growth tip

Standard pricing builds trust.

When your pricing is clear:

Customers trust you

Staff works faster

Profit improves