I've been sharpening chainsaw chains for neighbors and friends for several years now (10+) with a professional Stihl bench model grinder.  I've never tried to make money at it, I only do it in my spare time and only charge minimally, $2.50 to $3.50 depending on the size and style of chain. 

I get plenty of comments that I'm not pricing my work nearly high enough, so I'm wondering what everyone is paying in their area for professionally sharpened chains?

Still not looking to make money, but want to continue to help out my neighbors and friends without giving my work away too cheaply. 

Just looking for a range of prices that are paid around the country.

I would suggest you could come up with a fair price by charging by the hours required per chain x whatever hourly rate you believe covers your personal time and facility/machinery/consumables.

For example if sharpening a chain takes you 20 minutes (1/3 hr) and you figure your time/space/consumables total $21 an operating hour then $7. per chain is a fair price. If it only takes you 10 minutes on a small chain then 10 min = 1/6 hr x $21 = $3.50 is a fair price. This way it would take into account the increased time for a larger and longer chain vs a small one. 

I always appreciate a sharpening job where the operator doesn't wear down my chain excessively in the sharpening process. I have taken in some chains  for first time sharpening and they come back sharp but about worn out. I don't mind paying a bit more for a sharpening job where the chain is sharpened but not worn out in the process.

Good Luck.

Jim at Dawn

You're right in the neighborhood of a fair price at $3.50.  Why don't you consider yourself a "professional" after sharpening chains for 10 years ?? 

"Still not looking to make money, but want to continue to help out my neighbors and friends without giving my work away too cheaply."  Well if you want to continue helping out neighbors and friends why not just continue as you are? 

I'm "old school" I guess,, I just put the bar in the bench vise, tighten the chain real tight to take out the "file chatter" and hand sharpen my saws. It takes about 20 minutes but, my chains last alot longer than using a grinder type saw sharpener.

Just my theory about friends/neighbors,, but I don't ever want them to feel like they ever got less than a fair friend/neighbor deal from me. If they weren't a friend or neighbor they probably haven't ever met me anyway.

I actually do consider myself a professional when it comes to sharpening chains, hence my question about what others are charged to have chains "sharpened professionally". 

The 2 main differences in me and a professional shop is 1) I won't tell you when I can have it done, and 2) I don't make any money selling new chains, and consequently I don't have any incentive to grind their chains excessively on my grinder, so I can sell them more new chains. 

And, yes there is a lot of money made in selling chain.  I buy it by the 100' roll and know that even buying that much at a time off of a dealer, who is still making his percentage on rolls sold to me, I'm saving a quite substantial amount over what the general public pays for the same amount of chain pre-made into loops. 

Your post sounds all too familiar.  However, I refuse to grind down the teeth on chains that have been run in the dirt or otherwise used and abused making dust instead of chips for far too long.  I reset the drags and make their chain cut aggressive enough to wear the teeth back to a proportionate length relative to the heighth of the drags, and then explain to the owner what's going on.  He'll get the use of his chain that way, but he's going to have to be careful with chain set that aggressively.

I don't mind tounching up the rakers/drags, it's pretty easy and very fast on my grinder, not much of a problem except that $#%* low kickback, safety chain -- what a PITA.  I usually charge extra for those just for the pure frustration endured working on them. 

I appreciate all the replies here.  I think I might consider raising my prices for a few "customers" and just leaving it as is for the rest.