Markup Calculator

Calculate optimal selling prices, profit margins, and markup percentages for your products and services.

Calculate Markup & Margin

Enter your cost and pricing information to calculate markup and profit margins

$

Your cost to acquire or produce the item

%

Markup percentage on cost

Additional Options

units

Pricing Result

Enter pricing details

to see markup results

Markup vs Margin: Understanding the Difference

Markup Percentage

Formula:

Markup % = [(Selling Price - Cost Price) / Cost Price] × 100

  • Based on cost price
  • Common in retail and wholesale
  • Easy to calculate from cost
  • Can be misleading at high percentages

Profit Margin

Formula:

Margin % = [(Selling Price - Cost Price) / Selling Price] × 100

  • Based on selling price
  • Standard in financial reporting
  • Better reflects true profitability
  • Harder to calculate from cost

Industry Markup Standards

Retail

Electronics10-30%
Clothing50-100%
Jewelry100-200%
Furniture40-80%

Restaurant

Food Cost28-35%
Alcohol200-400%
Non-Alcohol300-500%
Desserts70-90%

Service

Consulting100-300%
Repair50-100%
Cleaning80-150%
Professional150-400%

Manufacturing

Consumer Goods30-60%
Industrial20-40%
Electronics40-70%
Automotive15-35%

Markup Calculator FAQs

What's the difference between markup and margin?

Markup is calculated as a percentage of the cost price, while margin is calculated as a percentage of the selling price. A 50% markup equals a 33.33% margin.

How do I convert markup to margin?

Margin = Markup / (1 + Markup). For example, 50% markup = 0.50 / (1 + 0.50) = 0.3333 = 33.33% margin.

What is a good markup percentage?

It varies by industry. Retail typically uses 50-100%, wholesale 20-50%, manufacturing 30-60%, and services 100-200% markup.

Should I use markup or margin for pricing?

Markup is easier for quick calculations from cost, while margin gives a better picture of true profitability. Many businesses use both depending on the situation.

How do I account for overhead in markup?

Include a portion of your fixed overhead costs in your cost calculation, or add an additional percentage to cover overhead expenses beyond direct costs.