Chess Set Prices: Why Fifteen Dollars and Six Hundred Aren't the Same
On a toy store shelf, a chess set costs fifteen dollars. In a specialty shop, one costs six hundred. Both have sixty-four squares and thirty-two pieces. Both follow the exact same rules. So what are you actually paying for with that fortyfold markup?
A fair question — with a concrete answer.
What's actually in the price
The material. The biggest factor. Solid wood costs many times more than veneered chipboard. Boxwood for pieces is expensive because the tree grows slowly and the wood needs to be dense enough to hold fine detail.
The labor. A hand-carved knight takes minutes — per piece, times four. A machine-milled version takes seconds. That time is baked into the price.
The weighting. Metal in the base, felt underneath, cleanly set in. One extra step, repeated thirty-two times.
The inlay work. On a good board, every square is set individually. On a cheap one, a pattern is printed on, or a single sheet of veneer is pressed over the whole surface.
The packaging. Sounds minor, isn't — especially for a gift. A substantial box carries the moment of giving; a cardboard sleeve doesn't.
The three price tiers, honestly assessed
Under $35. Plastic or thin wood, unweighted pieces, printed or veneered board. It works. Perfectly fine for learning chess, for kids, for a trip. Lasts a few years.
$35 to $110. The middle ground. Often wood, often veneered, sometimes weighted. Solid everyday sets. This is where things get murky, because similar-looking sets can be made very differently — this is where a closer look pays off most.
$110 and up. Solid wood, weighted pieces, real inlay, hand-carved knights. The jump is noticeable the moment you pick it up. And it lasts: these sets are still around in twenty years.
What you actually give up by cutting costs
Not the game — the rules are free either way. What you give up is longevity. A cheap set gets used and eventually replaced. A good one gets used and eventually passed down.
Over twenty years, a $270 set works out cheaper than three $45 sets — and at the end of it, it's still sitting in the living room instead of the trash.
When the extra cost isn't worth it
Staying honest here: if you're learning chess, you don't need solid wood. If you want a second board for the porch, you don't either. If you're playing with kids who still knock everything over, definitely not.
The extra cost is worth it when the chess set is meant to be more than a game: a gift, a keepsake, an object that belongs in the room it sits in.
Schachatelier: at home in Berlin
Schachatelier is at home in Berlin. Every set is genuinely handcrafted by experienced makers — for people who'd rather buy a chess set once than replace it three times.
→ Explore handcrafted chess sets
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some chess sets so expensive?
The price comes from material (solid wood instead of chipboard), labor (hand-carved knights), weighted pieces, real inlay work on the board, and high-quality packaging.
What does a good chess set cost?
Handcrafted sets in solid wood with weighted pieces typically start in the low hundreds. Below that, you'll find solid everyday sets, though they're often veneered and unweighted.
Is an expensive chess set worth it?
If it's meant to last: yes. A high-quality set holds up for decades and gets passed down. For learning chess or as a travel board, an inexpensive set is perfectly fine.
