A custom Tiffany stained glass panel has no fixed price: the cost is calculated for each piece once the design sketch is approved. It depends on five things: the technique, the number of pieces per square metre, the glass, the work on the sketch and the full-size template, and the frame, fixing and installation. The workshop names the final amount once all of these are agreed.
Key points
- Tiffany stained glass has no “per square metre” price: two panels of the same size can differ several times over in the amount of handwork.
- The number of pieces and the choice of glass affect the cost more than the size itself.
- The cost can be reduced without changing the subject: simplify the design or replace some of the glass with a more affordable type.
- An exact estimate is possible after the sketch is approved and the glass is chosen; a sketch takes from a few days to a month.
- Dim Skla in Odesa makes stained glass to a sketch for each specific order and ships across Ukraine and abroad.
Why is there no price per square metre?
Because Tiffany stained glass is a one-off piece, and its cost is driven by the amount of handwork, not by its area. Every piece is cut from glass by hand, ground, wrapped in copper foil and soldered to its neighbours. The more pieces, the more of these operations.
Compare two panels of the same size. The first is a large geometric pattern made of a few pieces of glass. The second shows flowers, leaves and shadows assembled from a great many small elements. The area is the same, but the second takes many times more work. That is why an honest price can only be given once it is known what will be depicted and in which glass.
Dim Skla is a stained glass and glass workshop in Odesa, Ukraine: an art studio and a glass production facility. The workshop has been working since 1994 and makes original stained glass to a sketch for each order, so every estimate is individual.
What makes up the price of a stained glass panel?
The price consists of five parts: the technique, the number of pieces, the glass, the sketch and template, and the structure with installation. The client can influence some of them.
| Component | What affects it | What the client can change |
|---|---|---|
| Technique | Tiffany, film stained glass, fusing, painting, mosaic or a combination | Choose a technique to suit the budget and the location |
| Number of pieces | How many design elements there are per square metre | Simplify the design while keeping the subject |
| Glass | Manufacturer, quality and amount of stained glass | Replace some of the glass with a more affordable type |
| Sketch and template | Complexity of the design, full-size template | Come with a ready idea, dimensions and examples |
| Frame, fixing, installation | The structure and the installation site | Agree on the fixing method in advance |
The technique sets the overall price level. A Tiffany panel is assembled by hand from separate pieces of glass, so it costs noticeably more than film stained glass, where coloured decorative films and lead strips are applied to a single glass sheet.
How does the number of pieces affect the cost?
The more pieces per square metre, the more expensive the panel. With many pieces, each one is smaller, and each goes through the same set of operations: cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering.
In practice this means the design can be tuned to the budget. A background of large pieces instead of fine mosaic, fewer leaves in a floral pattern, a simpler border: the subject stays the same, but there is less work. Such changes are discussed at the sketch stage, while they are still easy to make.
How much does the price depend on the glass?
Glass is the second biggest part of the price: stained glass from different manufacturers costs differently. The cost also depends on the country of origin, the quality and how much glass the piece needs.
Dim Skla uses glass from European and American manufacturers, as well as its own glass made in a fusing kiln. This gives a choice: more expressive glass for the key elements of the design and simpler glass for the background. If the budget is tight, replacing a few types of glass with more affordable ones keeps the cost within the required amount without redrawing the design.
So it is worth deciding on the glass right after the sketch is approved: both the look and the cost depend on it.
How can you reduce the cost without spoiling the design?
There are two ways to reduce the cost of a stained glass panel: fewer pieces, or some of the glass replaced with a more affordable type. Both work if you mention the budget at the start, not after the sketch is finished.
- Name your budget in the first conversation. The artist will then suggest solutions that fit it.
- Ask to simplify the design while keeping the subject: larger pieces in the background, fewer small elements.
- Discuss replacing some of the glass. Expensive glass stays where it is visible; more affordable glass goes into the background.
- Consider a different technique. Film stained glass imitates the Tiffany look and needs less handwork.
- Agree on the fixing method in advance so that the structure does not become an unexpected cost.
Saving on assembly quality is neither possible nor worth it: neat soldering and no gaps between the pieces determine how many years the panel will last.
What should you prepare for an estimate?
For the workshop to estimate the price, four things are needed: the size and shape of the piece, the installation site, the style and design or examples of what you like. The more precise this information, the sooner the sketch and the estimate will be ready.
Work on an order follows this sequence:
- Discussing the task; if needed, the artist visits the site.
- Sketches and approval of the sketch. A sketch takes from a few days to a month depending on complexity.
- Choosing the glass.
- Estimating the cost of the work.
- Advance payment and making the panel.
- Acceptance of the work by the client.
The estimate comes after the sketch and the choice of glass for a reason: only at this stage are the number of pieces, the glass and the structure known.
FAQ
Can I find out the price of a Tiffany panel over the phone?
An exact price cannot be given over the phone, because it depends on the sketch, the number of pieces and the glass. The phone is convenient for discussing the task: size, installation site and technique. The workshop estimates the cost after the sketch is approved and the glass is chosen.
Is installation included in the price?
The frame, fixing and installation are a separate part of the cost, calculated according to the structure and the installation site. Whether installation is included in a particular order is worth clarifying during the estimate.
Is film stained glass cheaper than Tiffany?
Usually, yes. In film stained glass, coloured decorative films and lead strips are applied to a glass sheet, while in Tiffany every piece is cut, ground and soldered by hand. Less handwork means a lower cost.
Do you ship stained glass from Odesa to other cities and abroad?
Yes, Dim Skla ships across Ukraine and abroad. The workshop’s pieces are installed in public and government buildings, cathedrals, churches and private homes in different parts of the country.
How long does a stained glass sketch take?
A sketch takes from a few days to a month. The time depends on the complexity of the design and on how clearly the client pictures the finished piece.
To get an estimate for your stained glass, prepare the dimensions, photos of the installation site and examples of designs you like. The workshop and production are in Odesa at Mykolaivska Doroha 253, Prodmash plant; phone, Viber and WhatsApp +380 67 783 40 89. Discuss your order · Tiffany stained glass