Turn survey costs into clear cost-per-response metrics fast. Adjust completes, dropouts, taxes, and labor instantly. Download results, share assumptions, and optimize your research workflow.
| Scenario | Completes | Total cost | CPR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | 250 | $1,965.00 | $7.86 |
| Higher incentives | 250 | $2,590.00 | $10.36 |
| Lower rejects | 250 | $1,965.00 | $7.65 |
Numbers shown are illustrative for quick comparison.
After a calculation, download buttons appear above.
Cost per response (CPR) = total_cost ÷ response_units. Dropout rate is shown for planning, but does not change cost unless you model it in costs.
Cost per response is the fastest way to judge whether a survey plan is financially realistic. Start by listing fixed items such as scripting, translations, and reporting. Then add variable items tied to participant volume, especially incentives and sample or panel fees. Finally, include internal labor hours and any platform charges. When you divide total projected spend by valid response units, you get a single number you can compare across vendors, markets, and timelines.
Valid response units should reflect what you can actually analyze. If you expect 250 completes and a 3% quality reject rate, only 242 completes remain for reporting. That adjustment alone increases CPR, even if spending stays constant. Dropout rate is useful for operational planning because it affects how many people must start the survey to reach the completion target. If you pay per start, model dropouts inside variable costs to keep CPR honest.
Platform fees, taxes, and contingency are common sources of underestimation. A platform fee applied to your subtotal compounds with taxes, and both compound again when you add contingency. For example, a base subtotal of 1,800 with an 8% platform fee becomes 1,944; adding 10% tax yields 2,138.40; adding 5% contingency yields 2,245.32. Small percentages quickly become meaningful at scale, so include them consistently. Confirm fees apply before discounts.
Partial responses can be valuable in long questionnaires or difficult audiences. If you collect 40 partials and assign 50% credit, you add 20 response units to the denominator. This often reduces CPR, but only if your costs do not rise proportionally. Consider whether partials require extra cleaning time or incentives; if so, increase labor or variable costs accordingly. Use partial credit carefully and document the rule so stakeholders interpret CPR consistently in every budget review.
Scenario testing helps decide which levers deliver the best savings. Lowering incentive by 0.50 may reduce cost more than negotiating a small platform fee change. Improving screening or tightening quotas can reduce quality rejects and raise valid completes without spending more. Conversely, shortening the survey can lower dropouts and reduce support labor. Run at least three scenarios: baseline, conservative, and stretch, then export results to share assumptions with your team.
It is total projected survey spend divided by valid response units. It summarizes all costs into one comparable number across suppliers, countries, or questionnaire designs.
Rejects reduce valid completes, shrinking the denominator. With the same spend, fewer usable responses increases CPR, so it is important to use realistic reject assumptions.
Only if dropout increases your actual costs. If you pay per start or must buy extra sample to hit completes, reflect that by raising variable costs or planned volume.
Include partials when they provide measurable analytical value, such as key screener questions or early survey sections. Apply a documented credit percentage so comparisons remain consistent.
This calculator applies platform fees to the base subtotal, then applies tax to that subtotal, and finally adds contingency. Adjust the percentages to match your contract terms.
Use CSV to store assumptions, share inputs with teammates, and create scenario tables. Use PDF for stakeholder updates and budget approvals where a concise summary is preferred.
Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.