Calculator inputs
Use the responsive form below. Large screens show three columns, smaller screens show two, and mobile shows one.
Example data table
This example uses the page defaults and shows a complete ecommerce order profitability scenario.
| Input or output | Example value |
|---|---|
| Quantity | 2 |
| Unit selling price | $52.00 |
| Discount percent | 10.00% |
| Coupon total | $5.00 |
| Shipping charged to customer | $6.00 |
| COGS total | $36.00 |
| Packaging total | $2.40 |
| Pick and pack fee | $2.50 |
| Actual shipping cost | $7.00 |
| Payment fee | $3.04 |
| Marketplace fee | $7.77 |
| Ad spend per order | $9.00 |
| Returns allowance | $2.84 |
| Return processing reserve | $1.50 |
| Variable overhead | $3.78 |
| Fixed overhead | $2.00 |
| Customer revenue | $94.60 |
| Total costs | $77.83 |
| Profit per order | $16.77 |
| Profit margin | 17.72% |
Formula used
Gross Product Revenue = Quantity × Unit Selling Price
Discount Value = Gross Product Revenue × Discount Percent
Net Product Revenue = Gross Product Revenue − Discount Value − Coupon Total
Customer Revenue = Net Product Revenue + Shipping Charged
Fulfillment Cost = COGS Total + Packaging Total + Pick and Pack Fee + Actual Shipping Cost
Payment Fee = Customer Revenue × Payment Fee Percent + Payment Fee Fixed
Marketplace Fee = Customer Revenue × Marketplace Fee Percent + Marketplace Fee Fixed
Returns Allowance = Customer Revenue × Returns Allowance Percent
Variable Overhead = Customer Revenue × Overhead Percent
Total Costs = Fulfillment Cost + Payment Fee + Marketplace Fee + Ad Spend + Returns Allowance + Return Processing Reserve + Variable Overhead + Fixed Overhead
Profit Per Order = Customer Revenue − Total Costs
Profit Margin = Profit Per Order ÷ Customer Revenue × 100
Break-even revenue estimates the customer revenue needed for zero profit after all selected fees and costs.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the order quantity and the average selling price per unit.
- Add discounts, coupons, and any shipping amount charged to the customer.
- Enter direct costs such as COGS, packaging, pick and pack, and actual shipping cost.
- Add fee percentages and fixed charges for payment processors or marketplaces.
- Include ad spend, return reserves, and overhead to reflect real order profitability.
- Press the calculate button to view the summary above the form.
- Review the breakdown table and Plotly graph to see where margin is lost.
- Use the CSV or PDF buttons to export the calculated order economics.
FAQs
1. What does profit per order mean?
Profit per order is the money left after subtracting product, fulfillment, fee, advertising, return, and overhead costs from customer revenue for one order.
2. Why are shipping charged and shipping cost separate inputs?
They answer different questions. Shipping charged increases customer revenue, while actual shipping cost reduces profit. Keeping them separate shows whether shipping is profitable, neutral, or subsidized.
3. Should I include sales tax in this calculator?
Usually no. Most stores treat collected sales tax as a liability, not operating revenue. This calculator focuses on order economics before income taxes unless your accounting method requires a different treatment.
4. What is returns allowance percent?
It is an expected reserve for future returns, refunds, or exchanges. Even when a specific order is not returned, including an allowance helps you estimate sustainable average profitability.
5. Why include both overhead percent and fixed overhead?
Some overhead scales with revenue, while other costs stay flat per order. Using both fields makes the estimate more realistic for growing ecommerce operations.
6. Can I use this for direct store and marketplace orders?
Yes. For marketplace orders, enter the marketplace fee fields. For direct store orders, set marketplace fees to zero and keep only the payment processor charges and other relevant costs.
7. What does break-even unit price show?
It estimates the selling price per unit needed to cover all selected order costs at zero profit. This helps with pricing decisions, promotion planning, and margin protection.
8. How often should I review profit per order?
Review it whenever costs, fees, ad efficiency, or discounts change. Weekly checks are useful for active stores, while monthly reviews can work for stable catalogs.