# Black Friday Calculator (and Cyber Monday)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/finance/black-friday/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The Black Friday calculator works out what you really pay and save on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals – percent off, percent off the second or third item, buy-one-get-one, 3-for-2, 4-for-3 and stacked double or triple discounts – including sales tax and shipping, and the average price per item.

## Inputs

- Deal type
- Price per item
- Number of items
- Discount (%)
- Second discount (%)
- Third discount (%)
- Sales tax (%)
- Shipping

## Results

- Price without the deal
- You pay (before tax and shipping)
- Total with tax and shipping
- You save
- Effective discount
- Average price per item

## Formula

```
Percent off: total = price × quantity × (1 − d)
X% off the second item: total = price × (1 + (1 − d))
Buy N get M free: pay for N of every N + M items
Total with tax and shipping = discounted total × (1 + tax) + shipping
```

## Explanation

Retailers often raise "regular" prices before sales, so compare with the price history. Multi-buy deals only save money if you would have bought the extra items anyway.

### How to use the Black Friday Calculator

- **Deal type**
- **Price per item**
- **Number of items**
- **Discount**
- **Second discount**
- **Third discount**
- **Sales tax**
- **Shipping**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Choose the deal type, then enter the price per item, the quantity, the discount(s), sales tax and shipping.

### Tips

- Know the difference between margin (profit ÷ price) and markup (profit ÷ cost).
- Apply successive discounts one after another – they do not simply add up.
- Check whether prices already include sales tax or VAT.
- Round prices only at the very end of the calculation.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Adding discount percentages together.
- Pricing from a target margin using the markup formula.
- Forgetting payment-processing and shipping fees.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterDeal typeChoose one: Percent off, Percent off the second item, Percent off the third item, Buy one get one free (2 for 1) …Price per itemAmount in your currencyNumber of itemsA numberDiscountIn %Second discountIn %Third discountIn %Sales taxIn %ShippingAmount in your currency

### What each result means

- **Price without the deal** = [Price per item]×[Number of items]
- **Total with tax and shipping** = [You pay (before tax and shipping)]×(1 + [Sales tax]÷100) + [Shipping]
- **You save** = [Price without the deal] - [You pay (before tax and shipping)]
- **Effective discount** = (1 - [You pay (before tax and shipping)]÷[Price without the deal])×100
- **Average price per item** = [You pay (before tax and shipping)]÷[Number of items]

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Price per item** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Price per itemTotal with tax and shipping4064.26096.380128.4100160.5120192.6160256.8

## Worked example

Inputs — Deal type: Percent off; Price per item: $80; Number of items: 2; Discount: 25 %; Second discount: 10 %; Third discount: 5 %; Sales tax: 7 %; Shipping: $0.

Results — Price without the deal = $160.00; You pay (before tax and shipping) = $120.00; **Total with tax and shipping = $128.40**; You save = $40.00; Effective discount = 25 %; Average price per item = $60.00.

## FAQ

**Are Black Friday deals really cheaper?**
Often, but some "discounts" are from inflated list prices – check price history.

**What is the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?**
Black Friday started in stores; Cyber Monday focuses on online deals – both now overlap.

**Is buy one get one free the same as 50% off?**
Only if you need both items.

**What formula does the Black Friday Calculator use?**
Percent off: total = price × quantity × (1 − d).