How to price acrylic nails
Acrylics are one of the most time-intensive services you offer, which makes underpricing them expensive. This guide walks through the real cost of an acrylic full set - supplies, application time, overhead, and card fees - so you can set a price that covers everything.
Why acrylic pricing needs its own calculation
Acrylic services vary more than any other nail service. A basic short square overlay is very different from a long coffin full set with tips. Supply costs, application time, and skill required all change with the length and shape the client wants. Pricing by market average - without calculating your own costs - means you might cover costs on a simple set and lose money on a complex one.
Supplies for acrylic nails
Acrylic supply costs per service typically include: tips or forms, acrylic powder, monomer liquid, base coat and top coat if gel polish is applied over the top, and nail prep products. A typical full set uses $6-$12 in supplies depending on length and whether tips or forms are used.
Time and your hourly target
A standard acrylic full set takes 75-105 minutes for most experienced techs. Your time cost is your target hourly rate multiplied by the appointment length. If your target is $45/hr and the appointment is 90 minutes, your time cost is $67.50 - before supplies or overhead.
Shape and length complexity
Short square or round nails on an overlay are your baseline. Add $5-$10 for medium length. Add $10-$20 for long nails or complex shapes like coffin, stiletto, or almond. Sculpted nails using forms rather than tips often take longer and justify an additional charge. Quote the shape before the appointment so the client knows what to expect.
Example: acrylic full set cost breakdown
The price floor is your break-even minimum. Price above it to build your target profit. Add $10-$20 for complex shapes or long nails.
Pricing fills relative to full sets
The common guideline is to charge 60-70% of your full set price for fills. But that ratio is only meaningful if you first calculate your fill cost separately - fills use fewer supplies but take nearly as much time as a full set for many techs. See the fill pricing guide for the detailed calculation.
Calculate your acrylic price floor
Enter your real supplies, time, and overhead to see your exact price floor for acrylic full sets. Free for one service - no card required.
Open the nail tech pricing calculatorAcrylic nail pricing questions
Why are acrylic full sets harder to price than gel manicures?
Acrylics have more variables: tip vs form application, length, shape, and whether gel polish is applied over the top. Each variable changes the supply cost and application time. A gel manicure is more standardized; an acrylic full set requires quoting more carefully.
Should I charge more for coffin or stiletto shapes?
Yes. Coffin and stiletto nails require more filing, shaping, and precision. They also take more time on longer lengths. A $5-$15 shape upcharge on top of your base price is standard and easy to explain to clients.
What is the right ratio between a full set and a fill?
The common guideline is 60-70% of your full set price. But the right ratio depends on your actual fill cost - how long fills take you and how much product you use. Calculate your fill price independently first, then compare it to the ratio as a check.
Should I charge more for sculpted nails vs tips?
Sculpting with forms takes longer than applying tips for most techs and requires more skill. A $10-$20 premium for sculpted sets is reasonable and positions the service as the higher-skill option it is.
How often should I review my acrylic prices?
Any time your supply costs change, your hourly target changes, or your overhead increases. A quarterly review is a reasonable habit. Many techs discover they have been underpricing acrylics simply because acrylics are the workhorse service they have always priced by habit.
Calculate your acrylic price floor
Enter your real supplies, time, and overhead to see your exact price floor for acrylic full sets. Free for one service - no card required.
Open the nail tech pricing calculatorPricing examples use illustrative cost figures for a typical US market at a $45/hr target. Your actual supplies, time, and overhead will vary. This is not financial or tax advice.