Selling Price & Profit Calculator (Markup / Margin)
Calculate selling price from cost price using markup or margin, or analyze profit when you know both the cost and selling price.
A selling price and profit calculator: from your cost price and desired profit level, it works out the selling price, profit amount, and profit margin. This is a foundational tool for running a business — it helps you price products for enough profit while staying competitive, and avoids losses from forgetting to account for costs.
How to use Selling Price & Profit
- Enter the product's cost price (purchase/production cost).
- Enter your desired profit percentage, or directly enter the intended selling price.
- See the suggested selling price, profit amount, and corresponding profit margin.
Markup vs. margin — don't confuse the two
Markup is the percentage added on top of the cost price, while margin is the percentage of profit calculated on the selling price. For example, if the cost is 100k and you sell at 150k, the markup is 50% but the margin is only about 33%. Many people set a "30% profit" as a markup while thinking of it as a margin, which leaves actual profit lower than expected.
Don't forget hidden costs when pricing
Cost price isn't just the purchase price. To avoid selling at a loss, add shipping, packaging, marketplace/payment fees, marketing, rent, and taxes to your cost basis before calculating profit. Your margin should be enough to cover these costs and still leave a profit.
Frequently asked questions
How are markup and margin different?
Markup is the percentage added on top of the cost price; margin is the percentage of profit on the selling price. For example, if the cost is 100k and you sell at 150k, the markup is 50% but the margin is only about 33%.
What profit percentage should I set?
It depends on the industry: retail is typically 20–50%, but you still need to subtract operating costs, marketing, and taxes before finalizing the price.
How do I avoid selling at a loss?
Calculate your full cost basis, including hidden costs (shipping, packaging, marketplace fees, marketing), before adding profit. If you only use the purchase price as your baseline, you can easily end up at a loss once those costs are deducted.