Service Menu Price List for Salons and Spas
Build a salon service price list or spa menu: layout, sample prices for hair, nails and treatments, add-ons, deposits and policies, plus mistakes to avoid.
A salon service price list (often called a service menu) tells clients what you offer, how long each service takes and what it costs, so there are no surprises at the till. The best salon and spa menus group services into clear categories, explain what changes a price, list add-ons separately and print the booking policies right alongside the prices. Done well, a menu also sells: it nudges clients toward treatments and add-ons they did not know you offered.
This guide shows how to lay out a salon price list, gives sample menus for hair, nails and spa treatments, explains how to work out prices, and covers the policies and mistakes that matter.
What to include on a salon service menu
- Salon details: name, logo, address, phone, booking link and opening hours.
- Service categories: for example cuts and styling, colour, treatments, nails, waxing, lashes and brows, massage, facials.
- Each service: name, a one-line description, duration and price.
- Price variations: by hair length, stylist level or treatment area.
- Add-ons: treatments that can be added to a main service.
- Packages and memberships: bundles or monthly plans.
- Policies: deposits, cancellation and no-show fees, patch tests, consultations, late arrivals.
- Tax note: whether prices include sales tax, VAT or GST.
- Effective date: so everyone knows which prices are current.
Sample hair salon price list
Prices below are illustrative examples to show the layout, not market rates for any area.
| Service | Duration | Stylist | Senior | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's cut and blow-dry | 60 min | $55 | $70 | $90 |
| Men's cut | 30 min | $30 | $38 | $48 |
| Children's cut (under 12) | 30 min | $22 | $28 | $35 |
| Blow-dry and style | 45 min | $38 | $45 | $55 |
| Root colour | 90 min | $75 | $85 | $100 |
| Full head highlights | 150 min | $140 | $165 | $195 |
| Balayage (consultation required) | 180 min | from $180 | from $210 | from $250 |
| Long or thick hair supplement | - | +$15 | +$15 | +$20 |
Add-ons: deep conditioning treatment $20; toner $25; bond-building treatment $30; fringe trim between cuts $10.
Sample nail and beauty menu
| Service | Duration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Classic manicure | 30 min | $28 |
| Gel manicure | 45 min | $40 |
| Gel removal | 15 min | $10 (free with new set) |
| Classic pedicure | 45 min | $38 |
| Spa pedicure | 60 min | $55 |
| Acrylic full set | 75 min | $60 |
| Nail art | Per nail | $3 to $8 |
| Brow shape (wax) | 15 min | $18 |
| Lash lift and tint (patch test required) | 60 min | $65 |
Sample spa treatment menu
| Treatment | 30 min | 60 min | 90 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swedish massage | $50 | $85 | $120 |
| Deep tissue massage | $55 | $95 | $135 |
| Signature facial | - | $90 | - |
| Body scrub and wrap | - | $95 | $130 |
Showing treatments in a duration grid like this is easier to scan than listing each length separately, and clients can see the better value of longer sessions at a glance.
How to work out your prices
Price each service from its real cost, then check against your local market.
- Chair cost per minute. Add up monthly overheads (rent, utilities, software, insurance, cleaning) and divide by total available service minutes. Example: $9,000 overheads / (4 chairs x 8 hours x 60 minutes x 22 days = 42,240 minutes) = about $0.21 per minute.
- Labour cost per minute. If a stylist costs $24 an hour including employer costs, that is $0.40 per minute.
- Product cost per service. Colour, developer, toner and foils for root colour might cost $9.
- Calculate the cost. Root colour, 90 minutes: (90 x $0.21) + (90 x $0.40) + $9 = $18.90 + $36.00 + $9.00 = $63.90.
- Add margin. At a $75 price, the profit before tax is $75 - $63.90 = $11.10, about 15% of the price. If that is too thin, either raise the price or reduce the time allowed.
This simple model shows why short, low-priced services often lose money once setup and cleanup time are included. For a broader framework, see our rate card template, which applies the same thinking to packages and add-ons.
Policies to print on the menu
Deposits
Many salons take a deposit for long or high-value appointments, for example 20% to 50% for colour, extensions or bridal services. State whether it is deducted from the final bill and when it becomes non-refundable.
Cancellations and no-shows
Set a notice period (24 or 48 hours is typical) and the fee for late cancellation or no-show. Our no-show fee policy guide includes sample wording.
Patch tests and consultations
For colour, lash and brow tinting, state that a patch test is required in advance where product instructions call for one. Require consultations for corrective colour and extensions so you can quote accurately.
Tips
If your salon accepts tips, say how (cash, card, booking app). In the US, tips received by employees are taxable income, and employees who receive $20 or more in cash tips in a month from one employer must report them to that employer, according to the IRS guidance on tip recordkeeping and reporting. This is general information, not tax advice.
Design tips for a salon menu
- Group by category, with the most-booked services first in each section.
- Keep descriptions to one line. Explain what is included, not marketing adjectives.
- Align prices in a column so they are easy to compare.
- Use columns for stylist levels rather than repeating each service three times.
- Match your brand. Use the same fonts and colours as your signage and website.
- Make it available everywhere: printed at reception, as a PDF on your website and inside your booking system, all showing identical prices.
For general layout options, our price list template guide compares formats.
Updating prices
Review your menu at least once a year, or sooner when product or rent costs rise. Give regular clients notice before new prices apply, ideally a month. A short, honest note explaining rising costs is usually received well; see our price increase letter examples. Update every copy of the menu on the same day.
Turning the menu into receipts and invoices
Use the same service names on receipts and invoices as on your menu, so clients can see exactly what they paid for. For bridal parties, corporate bookings and events, send an itemised invoice showing each service, the deposit already paid and the balance. Our salon invoice template shows the layout. If you sell memberships, issue a membership fee receipt for each payment.
Common mistakes
- Too many "from" prices with no explanation of what increases them.
- Outdated menus left on the website after a price rise.
- Hidden add-ons that appear only on the bill.
- No policies, which makes cancellation fees hard to enforce.
- Pricing below cost on quick services without counting setup and cleanup time.
Packages, memberships and gift cards
Bundles raise the average spend and encourage repeat visits. Common examples:
- Service packages: "Cut, colour and treatment" priced slightly below the total of the three services booked separately.
- Course bookings: six massages or facials prepaid at a discount, valid for a set period.
- Memberships: a monthly fee that includes one service and a discount on extras.
- Bridal packages: trial, wedding-day hair and makeup, and bridesmaid services in one quote.
Worked example: a cut and blow-dry ($55), root colour ($75) and deep conditioning ($20) total $150 when booked separately. A package at $135 gives the client a 10% saving ($15) while filling a 2.5-hour slot with a single booking. Check the package still covers your costs using the per-minute method above.
Gift cards are popular in salons, especially around holidays. Print the expiry rules and whether they can be used for products as well as services, and keep a register of numbers issued and redeemed.
Price list priorities by business type
| Business | Menu priorities |
|---|---|
| Hair salon | Stylist levels, hair length supplements, colour consultations |
| Barbershop | Short, fixed-price list; beard and hot towel add-ons |
| Nail salon | Gel, acrylic and removal pricing; nail art per nail |
| Day spa | Duration grids, packages and couples treatments |
| Lash and brow studio | Full set vs infill timings; patch test policy |
Making the menu work at the front desk
Train reception staff to quote from the menu, not from memory, and to mention supplements such as long hair or stylist level when the booking is made rather than at payment. Load identical service names, durations and prices into your booking software so online bookings, reminders and receipts all match the printed list. When a client asks for a service that is not on the menu, quote it, note it on the booking and consider adding it if requests repeat.
For bridal parties, events and corporate clients, you can turn your service menu into an itemised invoice in our invoice generator. List each service, show the deposit and download a PDF. It is free and there is no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
What should a salon price list include?
List every service grouped by category (cuts, colour, treatments, nails, waxing and so on), with a clear description, duration and price. Show whether prices vary by hair length or stylist level, list add-ons separately, and include key policies: deposits, cancellation and no-show fees, and whether a consultation is required for colour. Add your salon name, contact details and the date the prices took effect.
Should salon prices say "from"?
Using "from" is common and fair for services where time and product vary, such as colour, extensions and long hair. But a menu full of "from" prices can feel uncertain. Explain what changes the price, for example "long or thick hair +$20", or show tiered prices by length. For colour and corrective work, require a consultation and quote before the appointment.
How do I price salon services?
Start with the cost of each service: the stylist's time (including setup and cleanup), products used, and a share of overheads such as rent, utilities and booking software. Add your target profit margin, then compare with local competitors at a similar level. Many salons price by the minute of chair time and then round to clean numbers. Review prices at least once a year.
Should I charge different prices for different stylists?
Many salons do, using levels such as junior, senior and master or director. It lets newer stylists build a client base at accessible prices while rewarding experience. Show the levels clearly in columns on your menu so clients can choose. Make sure clients know which level they are booked with and that the receipt reflects the correct price.
Do salons need to display prices?
Rules vary by country and region. Consumer protection law in many places requires prices to be clear and not misleading, and some jurisdictions have specific rules on displaying service prices. Even where it is not required, a visible price list reduces disputes at the till and builds trust. Check the consumer protection rules that apply where your salon operates.
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Guides on invoicing, cash flow and small-business finance from Invoice Creator, operated by Next Software Development Company. Content is reviewed for accuracy against the fields our own invoice generator produces.
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