It's rather hard to say what "most" LAQs charge, because it depends on sooo many factors. How big is the quilt. How dense is the pattern. Is it hand or machine guided. What area of the country are you in - prices quoted in Seattle (for example) would be much higher than rural Arkansas, simply because the cost of living is higher. How skilled and in demand is the quilter - I know of a few LAQs who are so good at quilting, they are able to be very choosy about their clients and they charge a lot more.

Your best bet for pricing in YOUR area is to call around and ask for pricing info. Most quilters will give you a basic quote of cents per inch for pantos or edge-to-edge, and another rate for custom quilting. Some quilters will have pricing info on their websites, also.

$1200 seems awfully steep to me. The most I ever paid was $350 for a machine-guided panto on a 110" x 110" quilt.

My guy calls me about every 6 months. You can bring any number of quilts. He does amazing custom work but will do edge to edge. I asked him and he said one woman brought him 15 one time. I took in 5 but that is about my max. I currently have a closet of 16 ready for a long arm quilter and am about ready to talk to another local who is in my guild.

Thanks for stating this. I'm one of the LAer's listed on the board & do post pics of my work also. Currently there's no waiting 'cuz I just finished all the quilts that are at the quilt show this weekend. Everyone was concentrating on it, now they'll start thinking Christmas & I'm sure I'll be busy again. But I don't anticipate more than a 2 week turn around for anyone.
As far as price, we all charge by the square inch. Most all are pretty standard at .015 per sq for an all-over meandering type of quilting. The prices vary from that point on. Semi-custom & custom is where the prices really differ. It depends on the skill level of the LAer & how backlogged they are. $1200 is way too steep for anything but a full custom quilt job. It must have been show quality when it was finished.
Look here on the board for all the LAer's. Take a look at their postings & see which one's style fits what you're thinking of putting on your quilt & send them a PM to get the ball rolling. All of us will respond asap.

Different long armers, different time frames. My favorite takes more time because she's in high demand. She's excellent and I will wait 4 weeks for her. Others are 2 weeks and I send my easy quilts to them. But my hard quilts that I want custom go to Tracy because Tracy does awesome work and I know I will love the job.

I think it all depends on the quilter. I have sent a quilt to a LA for the first time the first week of September and when mentioned early October, she almost returned the quilt to me then and there. She said early November at the soonest. I have seen her work and choose to adjust my schedule. I suspect, like you, that the quilter has either over booked herself or has a backlog. My quilt is more than lap size but less than a single. Since it is now mid October I am starting to get anxious to see my quilt. Patience, Patience, Patience.

Do them yourself on your domestic machine!! I've done 2 King-size, 3 queen size, and can't count how many full size! The more you do it, the better you get and far more satisfying than those boring template patterns from the longarm budget category!

I am a long arm quilter, and no one waits more than a week or two to get their quilts back from me. I am single and I do not currently work another job, it is my only source of income, so I can't make people wait. They would go elsewhere, and I am always looking to grow my business. I do only pattern quilting no custom, maybe it is the custom work that slows them down, and this is one reason I don't do it. Besides the fact I can't tell some one they owe me 200+ dollars for a quilt. Communication is key in any business.

I do mine on my machine, just because if I had to send them out, I wouldn't be able to afford this hobby. I am not perfect by any means, but the last few quilts (Crib size) that I have done, have looked really good, and I have gotten lots of compliments on them.

I LOVE MY L.A.Q.!!!!! Right around this time of year I have several projects in the pipeline, and a schedule to keep. My LAQ allows me to call and get on her schedule before I've even begun the quilt. Since I know I have to finish a quilt by this-and-such a date (because another is right after that on my schedule), I get on the schedule within a day or two after finishing the top. If I finish early, I take it over anyway - several times someone's cancelled at the last minute and my quilt's been put on the frame in its stead, and the quilt gets finished even earlier!

Maybe - if you're certain when a top is going to be finished, you could get on her schedule. I used to finish, then call .... and then wait until my LAQ told me I could schedule way ahead, and how. You probably wouldn't have to get an agreement with your LAQ - as long as you finish by the agreed-on drop-off date: no harm, no foul, no deception.

The LQS I go to has a LA that you can rent. The rental book is open on the counter and all you have to do is put your name and phone num's bert down. I did my grandson's baseball quilt last week and have 2 days in Dec. for two more quilts I will have finished by then. I am just learning to use it and totally enjoy it. The employees are very helpful and the ability to do your own quilt is great. The cost is very reasonable and it sure beats going out and buying a LA. I would have to do around 100+ quilts to just pay for the LA plus the added expense of thread etc. I did my GS's quilt plus batting for less than $100. To me this is the way to go.