How to Calculate Your DIY Scrunchie Cost
Scrunchies have made a strong comeback and turned into one of the best gateway craft projects for anyone starting to sew. They require minimal fabric, minimal supplies, and can be made in under 10 minutes each once you have the technique down. Understanding your cost per scrunchie helps you decide whether to make them for personal use or whether there is a business case for selling them.
What Goes Into a Handmade Scrunchie
- Fabric: A standard scrunchie uses a strip roughly 3.5 inches wide by 21 inches long. From one yard of 44-inch-wide quilting cotton, you can cut 10 to 12 strips. From a bundle or fat quarter, you typically get 2–4 per piece depending on dimensions.
- Elastic: Each scrunchie needs about 9–10 inches of 1/4-inch braided elastic. A 10-yard roll (360 inches) yields about 36–40 scrunchies and costs $4–$7 at craft stores.
- Thread: A standard 250-yard spool of thread easily covers 60–80 scrunchies and costs $2–$5. Per-scrunchie thread cost is minimal — typically $0.04–$0.08.
What Scrunchies Cost in Stores and on Etsy
Basic scrunchies in packs of 10 from Amazon or Target sell for $5–$15 (so $0.50–$1.50 each). Boutique or handmade Etsy scrunchies in premium fabrics — velvet, satin, floral cotton, seasonal prints — sell for $4–$12 individually or $12–$22 for sets of three. If your material cost per scrunchie is $0.60, selling at $5.00 gives you an 8x markup before labor, which is excellent for a craft product.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much fabric do I need to make one scrunchie?
A standard scrunchie requires a fabric strip approximately 3–4 inches wide and 20–22 inches long. From a full yard of fabric (44 inches wide), you can typically cut 10 to 12 scrunchie strips. Fat quarters and fabric bundles can also be used, yielding 2–4 scrunchies each depending on dimensions.
What kind of elastic works best for scrunchies?
1/4-inch braided elastic is the standard choice — it is narrow enough to sit hidden inside the gathered fabric tube but strong enough to hold its stretch over many uses. Thicker elastic (3/8 or 1/2 inch) creates a puffier scrunchie with more hold. Avoid knitted elastic for very lightweight or silky fabrics, as it can twist inside the tube.
Do I need a sewing machine to make scrunchies?
A sewing machine makes scrunchies much faster and produces cleaner seams, but scrunchies can also be made by hand sewing with a needle and thread. The key seam is a long tube sewn along one edge, which hand-sewers can do with a running stitch. For selling in volume, a basic sewing machine ($80–$150 beginner model) pays for itself very quickly.
Is making scrunchies to sell profitable?
Yes, scrunchies have low material costs and high perceived value. At a material cost of $0.40–$1.00 per scrunchie, selling for $3.00–$8.00 gives a 3x to 10x markup before labor. Handmade scrunchies in premium or novelty fabrics (velvet, silk, holiday prints) command the highest prices on Etsy and at craft fairs, where individual scrunchies regularly sell for $5–$10 and sets of three for $12–$22.
What fabrics sell best for handmade scrunchies?
Cotton quilting fabric in fun prints is the most versatile and easiest for beginners. Velvet scrunchies are popular in fall and winter and photograph beautifully. Satin or charmeuse scrunchies appeal to people concerned about hair breakage. Seasonal fabrics (holiday prints, floral spring patterns) sell out quickly at craft fairs. Whatever fabric you choose, make sure the print or color is clearly visible in photos for online selling.