FOR THE MAKERS. BEFORE THE MARKET.
Craft fair
stock calculator.
How many items should you make for a craft fair?
Start with a range. Work with what you have. Make a plan that fits your time.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLE · MIDDLE SCENARIO
Make with
a little more clarity.
40 estimated units sold + 20% buffer = 48 items to bring, rounded up.
Swipe the table sideways to see Make and Hours.
| Product group | Bring | Use ready | Make | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small gifts50% of stock · 15 min/item | 24 | 12 | 12 | 3 |
| Everyday pieces35% of stock · 35 min/item | 17 | 6 | 11 | 6.4 |
| Statement pieces15% of stock · 75 min/item | 7 | 2 | 5 | 6.3 |
| Total | 48 | 20 | 28 | 15.7 |
Hours are rounded for display; totals use the unrounded figures.
Does it fit real life?
2.3 hours remain in your 18-hour making budget.
No packing limit set. Check your containers, display space and transport.
Print the selected scenario on A4 or US Letter. Turn off browser headers and footers. The CSV includes your assumptions and extra ready stock.
A planning estimate based on your inputs, not a prediction or guarantee of sales. Extra stock may remain unsold. No costs, profit, footfall conversion or demand forecast are calculated.
unboundmusestudio.com/tools/craft-fair-stock-calculator
THE METHOD, IN PLAIN SIGHT
Your assumptions.
Useful arithmetic.
The tool organises a plan you can review. It does not know your audience or predict what will sell.
- Build three sales scenarios.
Use units sold at comparable events where possible. For a first fair, ask the organiser about the audience, event length and past attendance. Treat attendance as context, not a sales forecast. Keep the range wide when evidence is thin.
- Add your chosen buffer.
Items to bring = estimated units sold × (1 + buffer ÷ 100), rounded up. For example, 40 units and a 20% buffer gives 48 items. These figures illustrate the maths; they are not a market benchmark.
- Allocate, subtract, check.
Your percentage mix divides the total into whole items. Leftover rounding units go to the largest fractional shares. Subtract available ready stock for each group, stopping at zero. Multiply new items by making minutes to check the time needed.
Before the Christmas market.
What if it is my first craft fair?
There is no universal stock number. Use a modest trial range you can afford to have left over, then check it against making time and space. At the event, record opening stock, sales, requests and leftovers. Those observations will make the next estimate more useful.
Should I base my stock on the stall fee or expected footfall?
Neither tells you how many pieces will sell on its own. Product price, audience fit, event promotion and conditions vary. This tool deliberately asks for your unit estimates instead of applying a fixed stall-fee multiple or assumed visitor conversion rate.
How should I plan stock for a Christmas craft fair?
Review the specific event and your own past seasonal sales. Consider giftable items, your range of price points and the time left to finish and package stock. A two-day event needs an estimate for both days together. Avoid multiplying a one-day forecast without considering whether the same visitors return.
Can it tell me how much yarn to buy or what price to charge?
No. This tool calculates item quantities and estimated making time. It does not calculate materials, prices, revenue, profit or break-even sales. Use your own product recipes for materials, and try our free crochet pricing calculator for yarn costs, labour and profit margins.
Are my figures saved or sent anywhere?
The calculations and CSV export run in your browser. Your entries are not sent to our servers and are not saved automatically. Download or print a plan before leaving the page. Normal hosting logs still apply; see our privacy information.
Where can I read more about market preparation?
Folksy’s craft-fair review advice discusses audience fit, event conditions and your range. Etsy’s guide to selling in person offers further preparation ideas. Our calculator’s inputs are your assumptions, not industry averages taken from these guides.
FOR THE WHOLE MARKET DAY
Market Day Studio
Connect your stock plan with sales, expenses, cash checks, packing and event reviews. Choose spreadsheet, fillable PDF or Notion.
Explore the full plannerFOR YOUR FIRST CROCHET STALL
Your First
Crochet Market
A practical guide and workbook for preparing your first crochet market, with a starter costing spreadsheet to support your planning.
Explore the market guide