New: the firing cost calculator
What does a firing really cost, what does a kilo cost, what does a plate cost? Run it with your own numbers, in three steps, no sign-up.
Most studios know what they charge per kilo. Very few know what a firing costs them. That is what the new firing cost calculator is for.
Three steps, your numbers
The calculator follows the same path as our guide to kiln electricity costs, except that you no longer have to do the maths yourself.
Step 1: What does one firing cost? Power rating from the kiln’s type plate, firing time, a load factor and your electricity price. Plus the blocks that tend to go missing from the “firing costs” cell in the spreadsheet: kiln depreciation, shelves and props, your own labour, a share of the rent.
Step 2: What does a kilo cost, and what do you charge? The cost per firing spreads across the pieces inside. Enter what you charge per kilo today and see what is left. A half-empty kiln costs twice as much per kilo, and the calculator shows that without softening it.
Step 3: So what does a plate cost? Your price from step 2, applied to one piece. With rounding up, a minimum price and an included allowance, if you switch them on.
An example to calibrate against
With the preset values, a 6 kW kiln, a ten-hour glaze firing, 0.30 euros per kilowatt hour and 12 kilos of pieces in the kiln, the calculator lands at 37.80 euros per firing and 3.15 euros per kilo. Charge 8 euros per kilo and you keep 4.85 euros per kilo, 58.20 euros per full firing.
These numbers are assumptions, not a recommendation. Swap them for yours; the steps stay the same. Nothing is saved and you need no account.
And after that
Once you know your rules, you do not want to run through them in your head every month. You set up exactly these rules once in WheelOwl, and from then on firing cost billing does the maths at the kiln for you. But first: run the numbers.