How Much Do Tailors Charge in Nigeria? 2026 Price List for Gowns, Suits, Agbada, Aso-Ebi and Uniforms

A 2026 guide to tailoring prices in Nigeria — gowns, shirts, trousers, senator, agbada, suits, aso-ebi and school uniforms — and how tailors should…

Published September 2026 · Skills · by Skillnaija Team

Whether you are a customer wondering if a quote is fair or a new tailor wondering what to charge, tailoring prices in Nigeria are confusing because they are rarely written down. This guide gives realistic 2026 ranges by garment and city, explains what moves a price up or down, and shows tailors a simple way to price work so they stop losing money.

Tailoring prices in Nigeria in 2026, by garment

These ranges cover labour only — the customer usually supplies the fabric, or the tailor buys it and adds it to the bill. Lagos and Abuja sit at the top of each range; smaller towns at the bottom. A tailor with a following or a studio can charge above these.

• Simple gown or dress (Ankara, plain): ₦5,000 to ₦15,000.
• Fitted or corseted gown, bridal-train dress: ₦20,000 to ₦60,000; bridal gowns ₦80,000 to ₦300,000 and above.
• Skirt and blouse set: ₦8,000 to ₦20,000.
• Men's shirt or native top: ₦4,000 to ₦12,000.
• Trousers: ₦4,000 to ₦10,000.
• Senator (kaftan) set: ₦10,000 to ₦30,000, with embroidery extra.
• Agbada (three-piece): ₦25,000 to ₦80,000 depending on embroidery and fabric weight.
• Men's suit (two-piece): ₦40,000 to ₦150,000 for bespoke; ₦25,000 to ₦50,000 at a neighbourhood tailor.
• School uniforms: ₦2,500 to ₦6,000 per set on a bulk order.
• Corporate uniforms and branded shirts: ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 per set on contract.
• Aso-ebi (per piece on a committee order): ₦6,000 to ₦20,000 for standard styles; more for styles chosen by the celebrant.
• Adjustments and repairs: ₦1,000 to ₦5,000 (zip replacement, hem, taking in).

What moves the price

Style complexity (lining, boning, pleats, pockets, embroidery), fabric difficulty (lace, silk and chiffon take longer than cotton), the number of fittings, urgency (express work adds 30% to 100%), and the tailor's reputation. Location matters less than customers think; a Lagos tailor in Yaba and one in Ibadan charge similar prices for similar skill. What customers pay a premium for is fit, finishing and delivery on the promised date.

For tailors: how to calculate a price that pays you

A fair price has four parts. First, the notions: thread, zip, lining, interfacing, buttons, embellishments, at cost. Second, your time: estimate the hours honestly and multiply by an hourly rate — ₦1,500 to ₦3,000 an hour for a beginner in 2026, more with skill. Third, overhead: a share of rent, power, machine servicing and transport, which for most small shops is 20% to 30% on top of time. Fourth, profit — the margin that lets you buy the next machine. A gown that uses ₦2,500 of notions and takes six hours at ₦2,000 costs ₦14,500 before overhead and profit, so a ₦10,000 quote is a loss, however common it is. The free Fashion Design & Tailoring course includes a pricing lesson with a worksheet, and Small Business Accounting shows how to keep the numbers.

Deposits, collection dates and disputes

The standard practice that protects both sides is 50% to 70% upfront, balance on collection, and a written (or WhatsApp) note of measurements, style, price and date. Tailors who take full payment upfront and miss dates lose customers; customers who pay nothing upfront leave garments uncollected. A fitting before finishing prevents most disputes about fit.

Why cheap tailors are expensive

A ₦4,000 gown that does not fit and has to be redone costs more than a ₦12,000 gown that does. For customers, the best value is a tailor who measures carefully, does a fitting and delivers when promised. For tailors, the way to charge more is to be that tailor — and to show it with photographs. Bulk work (uniforms, aso-ebi) is where price per piece falls but income rises, and it is the part of the trade that rewards organisation over artistry.

Related free courses

Fashion Design & Tailoring teaches measuring, drafting, sewing and pricing. Fashion Brand Builder covers turning a shop into a brand. WhatsApp Marketing shows how tailors keep their order books full.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to sew a gown in Nigeria in 2026?

A simple Ankara gown costs ₦5,000 to ₦15,000 in labour; a fitted or corseted gown ₦20,000 to ₦60,000; bridal gowns ₦80,000 to ₦300,000 and above. Fabric is usually extra.

How much does it cost to sew senator or agbada?

A senator set is ₦10,000 to ₦30,000 in labour with embroidery extra; a three-piece agbada ₦25,000 to ₦80,000 depending on embroidery and fabric.

How much should a tailor charge per hour?

Beginners in 2026 should price their time at ₦1,500 to ₦3,000 an hour, then add notions at cost, 20% to 30% overhead and a profit margin. Pricing from a neighbour's price instead of your costs is how tailoring shops lose money.

What deposit should a tailor collect?

50% to 70% upfront, balance on collection, with the measurements, style, price and date written down. A fitting before finishing prevents most disputes.

How much do tailors charge for aso-ebi?

Standard styles on a committee order run ₦6,000 to ₦20,000 per piece in 2026, with a deposit per piece and a delivery schedule agreed with the committee.