Finding the right pricing structure is a balancing act between profit margins and customer satisfaction.

You’re on the way to building your nail salon empire. You’ve got the location, staff, and all the supplies you need to start pampering clients with manicures and pedicures. There’s just one thing left: How much will you charge? Or maybe you’re a seasoned nail salon owner, but haven’t changed your prices in years and are wondering if you’re leaving money on the table, especially given recent talk of tariffs and economic uncertainty.   

Nail salon prices are tricky to nail down, especially since salons operate on razor-thin margins to stay competitive. Charge too much, and your clients won’t be able to stomach the cost; too little, and you’ll struggle to stay afloat. Finding a balance that fits your salon’s location and keeps everyone happy is critical to success. Read on to learn about the nail salon prices you should expect to charge and ways to bundle services to improve margins.

Nail salon prices and services

Typically, nail salon prices are an average based on time, labor, and supply costs. These prices may fluctuate depending on the size and type of business, as well as the location — a resort spa in Los Angeles will likely charge more for these services than a small nail salon in the midwest. Prices also do not include gratuity.

Manicures

Standard manicures begin with a soak in soapy water or a moisturizing liquid to clean the skin and ready nails for trimming. Then, technicians clean, clip, file, and shape nails to the desired length, then push back the cuticles to even the nail. Polish is then applied by request. Some salons also provide a paraffin wax treatment as an add-on service for clients looking for a premium moisturizing experience. Others may bundle it into a deluxe manicure package.

Cost: 

• Manicure: $20-$40 

• Add polish: $10-$20, depending on treatment

• Add paraffin wax treatment: $20-$40

Gel polish manicures start like a standard manicure but offer a different type of polish to coat the nails. For a gel manicure, technicians apply several layers of gel polish to the nail, then cure each layer under UV light. 

Cost: $30-$45

French manicures offer a similar experience to a standard manicure, but nails are then polished with a translucent white or pink color and finished with a solid white polish on the nail tips.

Cost: $30-$50 

Deluxe manicure services (also known as a spa manicure) vary by location but usually take longer to complete than a standard manicure and provides a more private and relaxing experience. Deluxe manicures often include one or more of the following: 

• Exfoliation to remove dead skin

• A paraffin wax dip to make skin extra soft

• Deep-tissue hand massages

• A renewing mask to moisturize

Cost: $35-$60

Acrylic nail treatments are one of the most popular nail salon treatments, primarily due to how flexible and customizable they are. Acrylics use a combination of liquid monomers and powder polymers and form a hard shell when bonded to the top layer of the nail. 

Acrylics can shape long or short nails, extend the natural length of the nail with acrylic tips, or be applied like a polish as an acrylic overlay. Clients can also opt for a natural look or express themselves with various colors and designs.

Acrylic nails require regular upkeep to look their best; salons can schedule acrylic in-fill appointments and even provide repair services for cracked nails.

Cost: 

• Short nails: $30-$45

• Long nails: $35-$60

• Nail extensions: $25-$40

• In-fills: $30-$45

• Repair: $5-$10 per nail

Pedicures

Standard pedicures offer a similar level of service to standard manicures. Clients are seated in cushy leather chairs and soak their feet in warm soapy or lotion-infused water — some salons even have small tubs with whirlpool-like jet streams that simultaneously clean and massage feet. 

Salon technicians take special care to clip and shape each nail, then finish up the procedure with a pumice stone to remove any calluses and dry skin from the bottom of the foot. Clients can request nail polish during a pedicure for an additional charge. Some standard pedicures also include basic foot and leg massages.

Cost: 

• Pedicure: $35-$55

• Add polish: $10-$20, depending on treatment

Gel polish pedicures apply gel polish and UV treatment to toenails after a standard pedicure. 

Cost: $50-$70

French pedicures provide a standard pedicure along with the same translucent base and white polish tips as its manicure counterpart.

Cost: $45-$60 

Deluxe pedicures (also known as spa pedicures) add a bit more luxury to the standard pedicure experience. Additional services may include:

• Exfoliation to remove dead skin

• A paraffin wax dip to make skin extra soft

• Longer foot and leg massages

• A renewing mask to moisturize

Cost: $45-$80

How to bundle services

As you can see, the type of service and cost can vary significantly. If you’re repeatedly only selling the basic manicure or pedicure service, you’ll notice your profit margin-to-time spent ratio is much lower than it should be. Nail salons should always be looking for ways to encourage add-ons and upsells to boost the profit margin of each service.

Bundling services into discount packages is a great way to increase value for the client while generating additional revenue. Many salons and spas attach a 15-20% discount on a bundle of standard or deluxe manicure and pedicure services to encourage clients to take advantage of the salon’s total offerings. Then, technicians can perform both services seamlessly — like giving the client a foot soak while filing and shaping nails — to reduce the time spent on both services. The client gets a good deal while feeling pampered and relaxed, and you’re maximizing your dollar-to-time ratio. It’s a win-win for everyone.

The effects of tariffs on nail salon prices

While inflation since the COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cost of nail supply prices to rise over the last few years, the looming impact of tariffs has been even greater.

Tariffs are a tax imposed by the U.S. government on imported goods. They mean businesses must pay an increased cost to bring products or supplies into the country. They usually pass this increased cost onto the consumer to keep their profit margins stable. 

Many of the products that salons rely on to create gorgeous nails — polish, acrylics, and even tools like protective gloves and nail files — come from countries targeted by these tariffs, like China. And those costs add up: One Atlanta nail salon reported that its monthly supply costs are likely to see a price hike of about $500 a month, if the tariffs go into effect. This is just one example to highlight how tariffs could have a real impact on a nail salon’s  bottom line. The impact of tariffs on your profit margins will come down to a number of factors, such as where you get your inventory, where your business is located, the services you offer, and even what the tariff rate is at any given moment, which can change on a dime.

In an industry with razor-thin margins, the only way a nail salon can survive an increase in the cost of essential supplies is to increase the price of its services in response. These potential tariffs can cause ripple effects beyond the beauty industry, though. Increasing the prices on your nail salon’s menu could cause clients to look for cheaper alternatives to meet their beauty needs as a way to trim the household budget.

So, how can you navigate these uncertain times? Here are a few actions you can take to weather the storm now and make your salon more resilient for the future:

• Find different suppliers: If you were relying on imported nail supplies to keep costs low, it may be time to get them from somewhere else for the foreseeable future. U.S.-made goods could be cheaper now, or you might be able to replace them with supplies made in a non-tariffed country — just make sure they’re not currently impacted before you make the change. 

• Lean on your inventory management software: Your data will tell you what costs are increasing, how much more they cost, and which supplies take the biggest bite out of your profit margins. Prioritize expenses that will make the most significant difference in your bottom line, then take steps to address the rest over the long term.

• Focus on retention: Your most dedicated clients are even more important when economic conditions are shifting. Consider creating a loyalty program (or reevaluating the one you currently have) to reward repeat visits with discounts, bundles, and exclusive opportunities.

• Be transparent: Everyone knows that tariffs will make things more expensive, if they go into effect. But if a client shows up at your salon and discovers that the cost of a manicure is suddenly more expensive, the sticker shock may leave a bad taste in their mouth. Instead, consider drafting a statement explaining why costs are increasing and describe what you’re doing to keep prices as fair as possible. Post it on your website and print up a sign to display prominently at the salon — a little bit of transparency goes a long way. And even separate from tariffs, if you haven’t changed your prices in years and are implementing an increase, check out these tips for a smooth transition.  

• Stay flexible: The situation surrounding tariffs is constantly in flux, and what is true about pricing today may not apply months — or even weeks — from now. Keep your eye on the news and be ready to pivot so you don’t get caught flat-footed if things change at a moment’s notice. Focusing on fundamentals like client retention, inventory management, and transparency will give you the stability you need to adjust pricing or service offerings on the fly while keeping your clients happy.

With updated nail salon prices that are fair for your business and clients, and the same commitment to delivering excellent nail services, your business is in the best position to keep growing and thriving no matter what’s happening outside its doors.ㅤ

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