Calculator
Enter your costs and selling assumptions. Submit to see results above.
Example data table
Use these sample values to test the calculator quickly.
| Units | Product cost/unit | Shipping total | Overhead total | Discount | Fees (platform + payment) | Losses (returns + shrink) | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $8.50 | $120 | $150 | 10% | 8% + 2.9% | 3% + 2% | 60% markup |
| 250 | $3.20 | $90 | $200 | 5% | 12% + 2.5% | 6% + 1% | 30% margin |
| 40 | $18.00 | $60 | $90 | 0% | 5% + 3% | 2% + 0% | $39.99 target |
Formula used
Total Cost = (Unit Cost × Units) + Shipping + Duties + (Packaging × Units) + Overhead + Other.
Effective Units = Units × (1 − Returns% − Shrink%).
Adjusted Cost/Sale = Total Cost ÷ Effective Units.
Losses raise the cost each successful sale must recover.
Base Price depends on the selected method:
- Markup: Base Price = Adjusted Cost × (1 + Markup%).
- Margin: Base Price = Adjusted Cost ÷ (1 − Margin%).
- Target: Base Price = Target Retail Price.
List Price = Base Price ÷ (1 − Discount%).
Net Revenue = List Price − Platform Fee − Payment Fee.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your batch size and your product cost per unit.
- Add shipping, duties, packaging, overhead, and any other totals.
- Estimate average discount, platform fees, and payment fees.
- Add expected returns and shrinkage to adjust real cost.
- Pick a pricing method and enter markup, margin, or target price.
- Submit to view results, then export files for reporting.
Cost stack clarity across channels
Retail pricing fails when costs are tracked in fragments. This calculator consolidates goods, inbound freight, duties, packaging, overhead allocation, fulfillment per order, and return processing into one batch total. Apply supplier discounts to unit cost for cleaner comparisons. Landed cost per unit helps compare suppliers, while adjusted cost per completed sale reflects real performance after losses.
Loss-adjusted unit economics
Returns and shrinkage reduce completed sales, so each successful sale must absorb a larger share of batch cost. The model separates shipped units from completed sales, because returned items still incur pick, pack, and payment charges. With clear counts for returns and shrink, you can quantify how a 5% combined loss can raise cost per sale by more than 5%.
Fee modeling and contribution margin
Marketplaces and processors often mix percent and fixed charges. The tool models both, plus ad spend as a revenue percent, so net revenue reflects what you actually keep. Profit per sale is calculated after fees and all costs, then expressed as both margin on net revenue and markup on adjusted cost for fast channel comparisons.
Pricing method selection and rounding discipline
Use markup when you want a simple cost-plus rule, margin when you need a profit target on net revenue, or target price when market limits dominate. Rounding options help match shelf conventions, such as nearest 0.10 or psychological endings like .99, without losing visibility into break-even pricing. This keeps pricing consistent across catalogs while preserving the logic behind every number.
Scenario testing and export-ready reporting
The discount sensitivity plot highlights promo risk by showing profit per sale from 0% to 30% discount in 5% steps. The stacked composition view reveals whether fees or cost are the true constraint. An approximate break-even sales estimate helps validate whether your planned volume can cover batch-level burdens. Export CSV for analysis, and PDF for sharing with finance, operations, and leadership. It supports quick iteration during monthly pricing reviews.
FAQs
What does adjusted cost per completed sale mean?
It is total batch cost divided by completed sales after returns and shrinkage. This shows the real cost each successful sale must recover, not the average cost per unit produced.
Should fulfillment cost be entered per order or per unit?
Enter it per order when your provider charges per shipment or pick-pack. If your costs are per item, convert to an order average before input so results match your typical baskets.
How do fixed platform or payment fees affect low-priced items?
Fixed fees consume a larger percentage of revenue at lower prices. That raises break-even price and can make small-ticket products unprofitable unless costs, discounts, or fees are reduced.
Why can break-even list price exceed my target price?
Break-even includes discount offset and percent fees, plus any fixed fees. If discounts or fees are high, your list price must rise to keep net revenue equal to adjusted cost.
When should I use the rounding options?
Use rounding when you need consistent shelf pricing, like nearest 0.10 or .99 endings. Always check profit per sale afterward, because rounding can meaningfully change margin on tight items.
Can I model promotions and ad spend together?
Yes. Set an average discount for promotions, then add ad spend as a percent of revenue and/or a fixed amount per shipped sale. The discount sensitivity plot helps test combined impacts quickly.