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Why Edible Prints Cost More Than You Think - What to Consider When Pricing Yours

If you’re a baker or edible image provider, chances are you’ve been asked:

“It’s just a little picture… why does it cost so much?”

On the surface, edible printing might seem as simple as pressing ‘print’ - but in reality, it’s a specialised process that involves food-safe materials, equipment, time, and care.

Whether you’re applying edible images to cakes and cookies or printing and shipping them directly to other bakers, here’s what you need to consider when setting your prices.

1. You're Using Specialised, Food-Safe Equipment

Edible images are printed using dedicated edible ink printers, which must only be used with food-grade products. Once set up for edible printing, they can’t be repurposed for anything else.

This means your business has made a serious investment in equipment that needs to be maintained to high hygiene standards - and that’s something your pricing should reflect.

 

 2. Edible Ink Costs More Than Regular Ink

Edible ink is specially formulated to meet food safety standards and produce vibrant, clear images on edible paper. Our inks are manufactured in Italy and held to strict quality controls to ensure safe and consistent results.

This level of quality and compliance comes at a higher cost than standard inks - which is why your pricing needs to account for it.

 

 3. Icing Sheets Aren’t Just Paper

Our icing sheets are:

• Gluten-free and vanilla-flavoured
• Easy to peel
• Designed for vibrant, high-resolution printing
• Sensitive to humidity and light

Edible icing sheets must be stored and handled carefully to ensure they stay in perfect condition for printing - and that kind of product care is part of the value you’re delivering.

 

4. You’re Investing Time - Whether You're Decorating or Dispatching

Whether you’re applying edible images to baked goods or simply printing and sending them out, your time matters.

If you’re printing for other bakers or customers:

• You’re cropping and resizing images
• Running test prints to ensure colours are accurate (especially pinks and purples!)
• Packaging the image safely to prevent damage during transit
• Travelling to the post office or organising reliable delivery

All of this requires time, attention, and care - and it should absolutely be factored into your pricing.

 

 5. You're Responsible for the End Result

When your customer receives their edible image, they’re expecting:

• Bright, accurate colours
• A smooth, well-printed sheet
• No smudges, cracks or misprints

That level of quality control is your responsibility - and it takes skill, experience, and consistency to deliver every time.

 

So, How Should You Price an Edible Image?

There’s no one-size-fits-all formula, but we recommend factoring in:

• Material costs (icing sheets, ink, packaging)
• Time spent (design, printing, packing, dispatch)
• Overheads and maintenance (cleaning cartridges, equipment upkeep)
• A healthy profit margin to sustain your business

Bottom Line:

Don’t undervalue edible images. They may seem simple to your customer, but they take real time, effort, and investment to produce safely and beautifully.

Be confident in your pricing. Educate your customers when needed. And remember - you’re not just selling a picture, you’re selling professional, food-safe, creative work.

Looking for premium edible printing supplies?
Explore our full range of edible printers, inks, icing sheets and accessories at Edible Image Supplies.

Find more edible printing tips on our blog.