We have no price list and do not publish a price range: we quote each design from your drawing, size and quantity (SIGA, 2026). The mold is a separate one-time fee and is never added into the unit price, and the quote is ex-works, so freight is priced separately (SIGA terms, 2026). To compare factories fairly, ask each one the same questions about terms, mold, sample, packing and breakage.
- We quote each design from the drawing, the size and the quantity, and we publish no price list (SIGA, 2026).
- In order of effect on price: quantity, size, shape complexity, process, finishes, color (SIGA, 2026).
- The mold is a one-time fee and is not part of the unit price (SIGA terms, 2026).
- Quotes are ex-works: the goods and the freight are priced separately (SIGA terms, 2026).
- Two quotes are comparable only when they cover the same terms, mold, sample, packing and breakage.
Ex-works (EXW) is an Incoterms rule under which the seller makes the goods available at its own premises, and the buyer loads them and handles export clearance (ICC Academy).
Unit price is the price of one shade, not counting the mold fee, the sample fee or freight.
Buyers often ask us for a price list in the first message. We do not have one; each design is quoted from its own drawing, size and quantity, including the shapes in our catalog (SIGA, 2026). This guide explains what we look at when we quote, what is charged once and what is charged per piece, and how to put two quotes side by side without comparing different things.
What decides the price of a custom glass lamp shade?
We price from three things you send us: the drawing, the size and the quantity (SIGA, 2026). The process, fully hand-blown or semi hand-blown in a mold, follows from the drawing and from how strict your tolerance is, as our comparison of the two processes explains. Our blown glass pendant shades page shows how shape and process vary across the range.
Six things move the price. In order of effect, they are the quantity, the size, how complex the shape is, the process, the finishes and the color (SIGA, 2026). Quantity comes first, and there are no fixed price tiers: a larger quantity can be discussed with us. The custom OEM page shows what to send with a drawing.
Color and finish are the other choices that appear in a quote. We match colors to Pantone or RAL on request, and we offer screen printing, hot stamping, color spraying and plating (SIGA, 2026). The minimum order is 20 pieces per design (SIGA production data, 2026).
What is charged once, and what is charged per piece?
The mold fee is charged once, and the sample fee is paid before the sample is made. Both are separate from the unit price, which covers the shades themselves, and a second sample may be charged, depending on how much changes (SIGA terms, 2026). The amounts and who pays are set out in the cost guide.
What does an ex-works price leave out?
An ex-works price leaves out freight and export clearance, which you arrange with your own forwarder or one we introduce. We price the goods and the freight separately because freight is complicated to calculate (SIGA, 2026). Under the rule, the seller makes the goods available at its own premises and the buyer handles the rest, as the ICC's Incoterms rules and the US International Trade Administration's guide both describe.
A quote that says delivered, or that includes freight, is therefore not the same thing as ours. Check the trade term before you compare any two numbers.
How do I compare quotes from different factories?
Compare them only after you have lined up the same terms. Ask each factory the same seven questions, and put the answers in one table. Our own answers are on the page about who pays for the mold, the sample and shipping.
| Ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Which trade term does the price use? | Ex-works and delivered prices are not comparable |
| Is the mold in the unit price? | A mold fee may be hidden in the piece price |
| Who pays for the sample and its shipping? | It changes the cost of a first order |
| How long is the mold kept? | It decides whether a repeat order needs a new mold |
| What happens to breakage in transit? | It decides who bears the loss |
| How is payment split? | It sets your cash flow |
| What is the minimum order? | It sets the smallest first order |
A mold is a separate tool that has to be made before the shades can be blown, as a Corning Museum of Glass guide to molds and moldmaking describes. So if a quote for a molded shade has no mold line, ask where the mold cost went.
Which price assumptions are usually wrong?
Buyers most often assume three things (SIGA, 2026). The first is that fully hand-blown shades cost less than mold-blown ones, so ask for a quote on both processes before you decide. The second is that the mold fee is spread into the unit price. It is not: it is a separate one-time fee. The third is that the quote includes freight. It does not: we quote ex-works.
What should I send for a fast quote?
Send the drawing or a photo, the diameter, the height and the opening, the quantity, the color and your fitting. The more complete the first message is, the sooner we can quote, and we reply within 12 hours. A quote is valid for 30 days (SIGA, 2026). Our ordering guide lists the full pre-quote brief.
When are we not the right supplier on price?
We quote ex-works, so we are a poor fit if you want one delivered price that includes freight (SIGA, 2026). We are also not the right supplier for orders with excessively strict requirements. We do not publish a price range, so a buyer who needs a number before sending any drawing will have to wait for the quote.
Fill one column for each factory before you compare the totals.
| Item | Factory A | Factory B |
|---|---|---|
| Trade term | ☐ | ☐ |
| Unit price | ☐ | ☐ |
| Mold fee | ☐ | ☐ |
| Sample fee and shipping | ☐ | ☐ |
| Packing and breakage terms | ☐ | ☐ |
| Payment split | ☐ | ☐ |
| Minimum order and lead time | ☐ | ☐ |
Sources and Further Reading
- ICC Academy: FCA and EXW Incoterms 2020 explained. Explains that under ex-works the seller makes the goods available at its premises. Checked 2026-10-17.
- ICC: Incoterms rules. The ICC overview of the rules, which clarify the tasks, costs and risks of delivery from sellers to buyers. Checked 2026-10-17.
- US International Trade Administration: Know Your Incoterms. A plain explanation of who manages the shipment, export formalities and insurance under each rule. Checked 2026-10-17.
- Corning Museum of Glass: Molds and Moldmaking. An overview of how glass molds are made and used. Checked 2026-10-17.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you not publish prices?
Every design is custom and sizes vary from one order to the next, so we quote from your drawing, size and quantity. Quantity moves the price most, then size, shape complexity, process, finishes and color. We do not publish a price range (SIGA, 2026).
Does a mold change the unit price?
No. The mold is a one-time fee, paid separately, and it is not added into the unit price. When you compare factories, ask whether the other quote hides a mold fee inside its piece price, because that changes what the two numbers mean (SIGA terms, 2026).
What does ex-works include?
The goods only. Freight and export clearance are arranged by you, with your own forwarder or one we introduce, and we price the freight separately. Under ex-works the buyer loads the goods and handles export clearance (ICC Academy, 2026).
What is the minimum order?
Twenty pieces per design. Quantity is the largest price factor and there are no fixed price tiers, so a larger quantity can be discussed with us when you send the drawing. Name the quantity for each design in your first message (SIGA, 2026).
Send your drawing, size and quantity, and we reply with a quote within 12 hours.
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