How much to charge for packaging design?
Most freelance packaging design projects land between $600 and $3,000, and the price mostly comes from dielines, SKU variants and print-ready file prep, not the label art itself.
A packaging job is a label, a dieline for the actual container shape, print-ready file prep, and usually more than one SKU. 'Same design, different flavor' is still a new layout each time.
Price more for tight deadlines
Complex projects tend to cost more
Price more if you're more experienced
Packaging design pricing in detail
Rates by level
| Level | Per project | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1 year | $200–600 | $25–50 |
| 1 to 3 years | $600–1,800 | $45–75 |
| 3 to 7 years | $1,800–4,500 | $75–130 |
| 7+ years | $4,500–12,000 | $130–200 |
Under 1 year, you are pricing artwork. At 1 to 3, artwork that survives a print run. At 3 to 7, a system across SKUs and a co-packer's dieline. 55% of clients will only pay up to $1,000. Only 20% pay over $2,500.
Why the range will not help you
The range is for packaging in the abstract. The client in your inbox has three flavors, a new bottle shape from their co-packer, and a shelf-ready case on top of the label. That is a different price, and it is not on any chart.
A typical brief, priced
“A small hot sauce brand wants packaging for three SKUs: a label design, plus dielines for a new bottle shape their co-packer sent over. They also want a shelf-ready case design for retail. They said it's basically the same job, three times. I told them $400 total since it's really one design, three flavors.”
| Label design, primary SKU | $600 |
| Flavor variants, 2 additional SKUs | $500 |
| Dieline setup for new bottle shape | $450 |
| Shelf-ready case design | $400 |
| Print-ready file prep, bleed and spot colors | $250 |
| Two revision rounds | $200 |
| Total | $2,400 |
You said $400 for all three. Dielines, a new bottle shape and a case design price at $2,400. It's never the same design three times.
What people forget to charge
- Dielines for a new bottle, jar or bag shape.
- Print-ready file prep: bleed, spot colors, die cuts.
- Each SKU variant is its own layout, not a color swap.
- Shelf-ready case or carton design, if retail is involved.
- Label copy or regulatory requirements, if they haven't sorted those yet.
- Revision rounds, especially once a co-packer flags a print issue.
How to say it to the client
“Three flavors is not one design done three times. A dieline for a new bottle, print-ready prep, and a shelf-ready case are each their own piece of work. Here is what each piece is, and you can drop any of them.”
FAQ
What's a dieline and why does it cost extra?
It's the flat template a printer cuts and folds from. A new container shape means a new dieline, built to spec.
Do I charge per SKU or per project?
Per SKU for the variant work, plus one shared setup fee for the system they're all built from.
What if the client doesn't know their print vendor's specs yet?
Get the specs before you quote a final number, or price a placeholder and revise once they arrive.
Is $350 fair for full packaging on a small brand?
Not once a dieline or a case design is involved. That's below hourly rate for the hours it takes.
Should I charge for print file corrections after approval?
If the client approved the file and the printer flags an issue with their own spec, yes, that's a change request.