Stop guessing what to charge for a string job
Most racquet stringers price by feel — copying the local pro shop or rounding to a tidy number — and never check whether the job actually pays. This calculator turns the real inputs of a stringing job (reel price, string used per frame, labour minutes and overhead) into the three numbers that matter: your true cost per job, your profit, and your effective hourly rate. Change any field and every figure updates instantly.
How to use it
- Pick your currency and length units at the top — every figure reformats to match.
- Choose how you supply string: from a reel (cheapest, shows jobs per reel), a single packet/set, or the customer’s own string (labour only).
- Enter your reel price and length, plus how much string one racquet uses. Add a waste percentage if you cut long.
- Set minutes per job and what your time is worth per hour.
- Add per-job overhead and any card/marketplace fee, then set your price as a fixed charge or a markup on cost.
Read the profit per job at the top and the effective hourly rate in the stats grid. If the hourly rate is lower than your target, raise the price, cut waste, or batch jobs to spend fewer minutes per racquet.
When this helps
- Starting a side hustle: set a price that clears a real profit instead of undercharging from day one.
- Switching to reels: compare reel vs. packet cost per job to see the saving before you commit to bulk buying.
- Club or team work: price bulk jobs where minutes per racquet drop because you batch the setup.
- Premium strings: check that a fancy string’s extra cost is actually covered by your price.
The formula, explained
Cost per job is built from three parts:
- String: in reel mode, reel price ÷ (reel length ÷ string per job × waste factor) = string cost per racquet. In packet mode it is simply the set price; with the customer’s own string it is zero.
- Labour: minutes per job ÷ 60 × your hourly rate.
- Overhead: a flat per-job amount for machine wear, grommets and travel.
Profit = your price − total cost − any payment fee on the price. Effective hourly rate = profit ÷ (minutes ÷ 60), so you can see whether the job is worth your bench time.
Common mistakes
- Counting string by packet when you buy reels. Reels are far cheaper per job — pricing off packet cost hides your real margin.
- Ignoring your own time. A “profit” that pays you less per hour than a part-time job isn’t really profit.
- Forgetting fees. A card or marketplace cut comes straight off the top of your price.
- No overhead. Grommets, tools and machine maintenance are small per job but real over a season.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge to string a racquet?
Add your string cost per job (reel price divided by how many racquets the reel strings), the value of your labour time (minutes per job times your target hourly rate) and a small overhead share. That total is your floor price. Most side-business stringers then add a markup on top. This calculator does that arithmetic and shows the resulting profit and effective hourly rate, so you can choose a price you’re happy with rather than guessing.
How many racquets can you string from one reel?
It depends on reel length and how much string each frame uses. A common tennis reel is about 200 metres (660 feet) and a single tennis racquet typically uses around 11–12 metres, giving roughly 16–18 jobs per reel. Badminton, squash and pickleball frames use less string, so you get more jobs per reel. Enter your own reel length and string-per-job figures and the tool divides them for your exact string cost per job and jobs-per-reel count.
Should I price by the reel or per packet?
Buying string on a reel is almost always cheaper per job than individual packets, which is why pricing from a reel reveals your true margin. Switch this tool to packet mode when a customer wants a premium set you only stock as singles, or to customer-string mode when they bring their own. Compare the cost-per-job figure across modes to see how much reel buying saves you.
What profit margin should I aim for?
There’s no single right number, but the figure that matters most is your effective hourly rate: profit per job divided by the time the job actually takes, including setup and admin. If that lands below what your time is worth, raise the price or batch jobs to cut minutes per racquet. This tool surfaces that hourly rate directly so you can judge whether a price is worth your time.
Method & assumptions: figures are derived live from your inputs using the formula above; default reel length (200 m / 660 ft) and string-per-job (12 m) are common industry values you can edit. This is an estimate for guidance only, not financial or business advice.