Home stained glass studio: panels, gifts and commissions
Design and make stained glass panels and gifts in a spare room, garage or shed, selling online and at craft fairs.
- £600-3k
- Side hustle
- From home
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
41,489 UK companies in this field, 27% registered in the last 2 years
SIC 90030 “Artistic creation”. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small workshop at home where you design and make leaded or copper foil stained glass: window panels, suncatchers, lamps and gifts. You can also take on commissions for custom pieces.
Your first three steps
- Book a beginner or intermediate stained glass course, or practise at a local studio, to build your skills
- Set up a safe, ventilated workspace and buy basic tools: glass cutter, grinder, soldering iron and glass offcuts
- Make a small collection, photograph it well and list it on Etsy or Instagram, or book a table at a local craft fair
Who pays
Homeowners wanting a custom panel, gift buyers, interior designers and visitors to craft fairs and online shops.
How it makes money
Selling finished pieces at fixed prices, charging for commissions (often with a deposit up front), and optionally running small workshops for beginners.
Skills that help
- Cutting glass and soldering (learnable on a course)
- Design and drawing
- Patience and attention to detail
- Photographing your work for sales
Watch out for
- Lead (in came and solder) and glass dust need good ventilation, hygiene and safe disposal, so check current health and safety guidance
- Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to give permission for running a business from home
- Public liability and product insurance, especially for craft fairs and commissions
- Glass is heavy and fragile, so price in breakages and safe packaging for posting
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: home stained glass studio
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a stained glass business at home?
Startup costs are typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on your tools, glass and workspace set-up. A course can help you learn cutting and soldering. These figures are estimates only.
How much can I make selling stained glass?
Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on what you make, where you sell and whether you take commissions. Many people start at around 8 hours a week. Treat these as estimates.
What rules should I check before starting a stained glass studio at home?
Check ventilation, hygiene and safe disposal for lead and glass dust against current health and safety guidance. Also check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to give permission, and consider public liability and product insurance.
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Photo: jimmikehank on Pixabay