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... How long is a piece of string?

Buying or commissioning a puppet means that you will want to know you're getting value for your dollar. But this doesn't mean there is an exact determination of what a puppet will cost you: it's not like there's a price guide or blue book for making puppets. You get what you pay for.

A good puppet can cost anywhere from $20 to thousands of dollars. It all depends on the following: 

• Size - A small puppet needs less material than larger ones
• Materials - Want chiffon and satin clothing for your puppet? Well, that costs a lot more than buying regular cotton material. Antron fleece (used for muppet-types) and reticulated foam is also more expensive (and harder to find) than most other materials
• Type of puppet - a hand-carved wooden marionette will require a lot more work and material than a small finger puppet made out of felt. I've seen puppeteers all over the net/world selling small, fun puppets, because they are easier to ship and can be bought from $5 to $15; alternatively, other puppet makers sell larger muppet-types and marionettes, which can cost several hundred dollars
• Skill involved in building - Additionally, muppet-types require a lot more skill and knowledge of a wider range of building techniques than is needed for finger puppets or sock puppets. Each type of puppet has its own particular techniques and quirks, and the more skill needed to make the puppet, the more complex it is. Complexity will mean a lot more labour and time going into the building process, which will of course, influence the cost of the puppet
• Labour and time spent - no explanation needed

This is just some of the factors used to calculate cost of making a puppet, and if you're buying an already-made puppet from someone, then you will have a set price which will reflect the above considerations. 

If you are commissioning a puppet maker, then you should think about the above. If you are unsure of how much you think the puppet will cost to make, then have a puppet maker give you a basic quote - they will have experience on how much the puppet should cost to make, although it should be noted that different puppet makers might have different quotes. That is because each one will factor labour and time spent differently, as well as the cost of materials which might differ in their area. 

Additionally, you can always set the puppet maker a budget if you prefer - some puppet makers might not be accommodating to this, since a small budget may be too small to create something to a high standard, others may be extremely interested. Puppet makers may also be willing to negotiate if you are commissioning them. 

As you can see, the price of a puppet really is hard to define, so your best bet is to do some price comparisons before buying or commissioning - and then figuring out what you'd be happy to pay.

Don't want to spend much? Cheap puppet patterns are now available at my online store! 

Want more? Help build a puppet!