Price / Quantity Calculator (Which Is the Better Deal?)

Bigger packs are usually cheaper per unit, but not always – promotions on small sizes often beat bulk packs. Comparing the unit price is the only reliable way to know.

How to use the Price / Quantity Calculator

1. Smaller product – quantity
2. Smaller product – price
3. Larger product – quantity
4. Larger product – price

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

How it works

Enter the quantity and price of the smaller and the larger product.

Tips

• Use figures for the same period (a month, a quarter or a year) for every input so ratios compare like with like.
• Track the metric over time – the trend usually tells you more than a single value.
• Compare your result with industry benchmarks, which vary a lot between sectors.
• Treat the result as a starting point for a decision, then check the assumptions behind each input.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Mixing monthly and yearly numbers in the same calculation.
• Using revenue where the formula needs profit (or the other way round).
• Forgetting hidden costs such as taxes, fees, overheads or your own time.

Inputs explained

What each result means

• Smaller product – price per unit = [Smaller product – price]÷[Smaller product – quantity]
• Larger product – price per unit = [Larger product – price]÷[Larger product – quantity]
• The larger quantity would have cost at the smaller product’s price = [Smaller product – price per unit]×[Larger product – quantity]
• You save buying the larger product = [Smaller product – price per unit]×[Larger product – quantity] – [Larger product – price]
• Saving per unit = (1 – [Larger product – price per unit]÷[Smaller product – price per unit])×100