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Margin / markup calculator

Calculate gross profit, margin and markup.

Use tool

How to use it

Enter cost and selling price to compare gross profit, gross margin and markup. The two percentages use different denominators, which is why they are not interchangeable.

  1. Enter a positive cost.
  2. Enter a positive selling price.
  3. Select Calculate to see gross profit, gross margin and markup.
Gross profit
selling price − cost
Gross margin
gross profit ÷ selling price × 100
Markup
gross profit ÷ cost × 100
Inputs
Positive numeric cost and price

Cost 600 and price 1,000 means 40% margin but 66.67% markup

Gross profit is 400. Margin is 400 ÷ 1,000 = 40%, while markup is 400 ÷ 600 ≈ 66.67%.

A target margin and a target markup are different pricing goals. Saying “add 40%” to cost does not produce a 40% gross margin.

Margin uses selling price as the denominator

Gross margin asks what share of the final selling price remains after the unit cost is removed.

Markup uses cost as the denominator

Markup asks how much higher the selling price is compared with the cost basis.

Selling below cost produces negative profit

A positive cost and price are still valid even when price is lower than cost; the resulting gross profit and both percentages become negative.

This is unit economics, not full net profit

Shipping, payment fees, labor, overhead and tax are not included unless you already incorporated them into the cost figure.

Related references: SI prefixes & units · Number formats · Cooking measures