Markup Calculator
Set a price by adding a markup to your cost — or work backwards from a price to see the underlying markup. Margin shown alongside.
Quick answer: Set a price by adding a markup to your cost — or work backwards from a price to see the underlying markup. Margin shown alongside.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is markup?
- Markup is the percentage you add on top of cost to set the sale price. A 50% markup on a $10 cost gives a $15 sale price.
- Markup vs. margin?
- Markup uses cost as the denominator; margin uses sale price. A 100% markup is a 50% margin. A 50% markup is a 33% margin. They diverge as the percentage grows.
- How do I price for a 50% margin?
- You need a 100% markup. The general rule: required markup = margin / (1 − margin).
- Can the calculator solve for cost?
- Yes — switch to 'Sale + Markup' mode and we compute cost as sale / (1 + markup%/100).
- What's a typical retail markup?
- Apparel: 100–200%. Electronics: 5–25%. Food & beverage: 50–100%. Furniture: 200–300%. Yours depends on competition and overhead.
- Does markup include sales tax?
- No — markup is pre-tax. Add sales tax/VAT separately on the receipt.
- Are my numbers uploaded?
- No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser.
- Can markup be negative?
- Yes — a negative markup means you're selling below cost, which becomes a loss.
- Can I use this for contractor billing?
- Yes. Cost = your hourly rate × hours; markup = your overhead and profit. The result is the line price you bill the client.
- What's the keystone markup?
- 100% — i.e. doubling the cost. It's the historical default in retail.