Blacksmiths forge, bend, and fabricate metal by hand and with power hammers, presses, and welders. Clients include homeowners ordering gates, railings, and hardware, designers and builders who need custom architectural ironwork, farmers and ranchers who need repairs and tools, and buyers of knives, fireplace tools, and decorative pieces. Invoices usually cover a mix of labor, raw material, finishing, and sometimes delivery or installation.
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Most blacksmiths combine an hourly shop rate with a materials charge, then quote the whole job as a flat price for custom work. Small repairs and on-the-spot jobs are often billed by the hour with a minimum charge. Production items such as hooks, hinges, and fireplace tools are priced per piece, often from a price list built on time, material, and fuel. Architectural work such as gates and railings is often priced per linear foot or as a fixed project price with a deposit up front. Materials are usually passed through at cost plus a markup of 10 to 25 percent to cover waste, handling, and shipping. Finishing (powder coat, paint, wax, clear coat), design or drawing time, on-site installation, and delivery are normally listed as separate lines. Custom commissions often carry a design fee that is credited toward the final price if the client proceeds.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Shop labor, general forging and fabrication | per hour | $60-120 |
| On-site repair or installation (includes travel) | per hour | $85-150 |
| Custom railing, fabricated and forged | per linear ft | $150-500 |
| Custom driveway or garden gate | flat fee | $1,500-8,000 |
| Hand-forged hardware (hinges, latches, hooks) | per piece | $25-250 |
| Farrier-style or tool repair (sharpening, re-handling, welding) | per job | $25-150 |
| Design drawing or shop sketch | flat fee | $100-500 |
| Powder coat or paint finishing (sublet or in-house) | per job | $75-600 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom forged garden gate, 36 in x 60 in, scrolled top, includes design and fabrication labor | 22 hours | $85.00 | $1,870.00 |
| Steel stock (1/2 in square bar, 1/4 x 1 in flat bar, 3/8 in round) plus consumables | 1 lot | $240.00 | $240.00 |
| Hand-forged gate latch and two strap hinges | 1 set | $180.00 | $180.00 |
| Powder coat, satin black (sublet) | 1 job | $210.00 | $210.00 |
| On-site installation, including post hardware | 3 hours | $110.00 | $330.00 |
| Delivery, 35 miles each way | 1 flat | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| Total | $2,890.00 | ||
Notes: 50% deposit of $1,545 was received on the order date. Balance due within 14 days of installation. Payment accepted by check, ACH, or card (3% fee on card payments). Items remain shop property until paid in full. Steel will develop surface rust if the coating is damaged; touch-up instructions provided.
Clients often assume handwork is cheap. Showing the hours makes the price understandable and defends it if questioned.
Material prices change with the market, and clients who ask for specialty metals need to see why the price differs from a standard quote.
Finish determines durability and maintenance. Naming it avoids disputes about color, sheen, or rust later.
Custom work drifts from the original design. Tying the invoice to the agreement shows which changes the client approved.
Most commissions require a deposit for materials. Showing it clearly prevents confusion over what is left to pay.
Travel and installation are separate costs from shop work, and unexpected site issues like concrete drilling or uneven grade should be recorded.
Many states tax tangible goods but treat installation and repair differently. Record what you charged tax on and keep exemption certificates for contractors and resellers.
Custom commissions typically require a deposit of 30 to 50 percent to cover material and reserve shop time, with the balance due at pickup or on completion of installation. Large architectural jobs may use a three-part schedule, such as a deposit, a progress payment when forging is done, and a final payment after install. Small repairs and retail pieces are usually paid at pickup. For invoices sent after delivery, net 14 or net 30 is common, with a late fee of 1 to 1.5 percent per month if stated in writing beforehand. Checks, ACH, and card are all common, and some smiths add a card fee or offer a small discount for check or cash. For work for contractors and designers, expect net 30 and put the PO number on the invoice.
Add rent, fuel (coal, propane, or electricity), insurance, tooling, and consumables, then divide by billable hours. Many smiths bill only a fraction of the hours they spend in the shop, so the hourly rate has to cover idle time, sketching, and cleanup.
Drawings and mockups take real time. A fee of $100 to $500, credited toward the final price if the client proceeds, filters out casual inquiries and pays for the time when they do not.
Steel prices can move between quote and purchase. Put a validity window on the quote, such as 30 days, and state that large changes in material cost may adjust the price.
A finished knife, hook, or fireplace set is easy to hand over and hard to chase later. For retail and repair work, collect at pickup rather than invoicing afterward.
Drilling into concrete, welding on site, or hauling a heavy gate up a hill can take longer than planned. List installation as its own line with an hourly rate so extra time is easy to justify.
Most smiths quote a flat price for defined custom pieces and hourly for repairs or open-ended work. Build the flat price from estimated hours, materials, finishing, and a margin for the unexpected, and get a signed scope so changes can be billed separately.
A markup of 10 to 25 percent over cost is common. It covers waste from cutoffs, shipping, storage, and the time spent sourcing. Some smiths bill material at cost and charge a higher labor rate instead; either approach works if it is consistent and disclosed.
It depends on the state. Many states tax finished goods sold to consumers, while treatment of repairs, installation, and custom fabrication varies. Check with your state revenue department, and keep resale or exemption certificates for clients who claim them.
State a storage policy on the quote or agreement, such as a storage fee after 30 days and the right to resell after a longer period. Local law on abandoned property varies, so check your rules before acting on it.
Yes. A shop minimum of one half hour to one hour covers setup, firing the forge or welder, and handling. Post it in the shop and mention it when you take the job.
Send a Blacksmith estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Blacksmith estimate template