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Calculate Profit Margin and Markup From Cost and Price

Enter your cost price and selling price to instantly see profit amount, profit margin, and markup percentage, useful for pricing products correctly and understanding the actual difference between margin and markup.

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Why margin and markup get confused

Both describe profitability from the same sale, but they're calculated against different bases. Margin divides profit by the selling price; markup divides profit by the cost price. Because the denominators differ, the two numbers are never equal for a given sale, which surprises people the first time they see both side by side.

A typical use case

Setting a retail price for a new product, or checking whether a recent price change actually improved profitability the way it was supposed to.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between margin and markup?

Margin is profit divided by selling price. Markup is profit divided by cost price. The two numbers are always different, and both get shown since businesses use either depending on context.

Which one should I use to set prices?

Markup is usually used to calculate a selling price from cost. Margin is usually used to evaluate profitability after a sale.

Does this account for taxes or shipping costs?

No, it's a straightforward cost-vs-selling-price calculation. Factor in taxes or shipping through your cost price if you want them reflected.

What's a healthy profit margin?

It varies a lot by industry. Retail and food service often run thin, single digits to teens, while software can run much higher. Compare against your specific industry's typical range.

What's the difference between margin and markup?

Margin is profit divided by the selling price; markup is profit divided by the cost price. The same sale produces two different percentages depending on which one you're looking at.

Which one should I use for pricing decisions?

Margin is generally more useful for understanding overall profitability as a percentage of revenue, while markup is more common when setting a price by adding a percentage on top of your cost.

Does this account for other business costs beyond the item's direct cost?

No, it calculates margin and markup purely from the cost price and selling price you enter — overhead, shipping, and other indirect costs aren't factored in unless you include them in your cost figure.

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