Finance

Markup Calculator

Markup is how much you add to cost to set a price. Enter your cost and the markup percentage you want. The calculator shows the selling price, the markup amount and your margin — updating as you type.

Estimates only. This tool is provided for educational purposes and is not financial advice. It models the figures you enter — it does not know your credit terms, local taxes, or fees. Talk to a licensed adviser before making a decision.

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How to use the markup calculator

  1. Enter your cost — what you paid or what it costs to make.
  2. Enter the markup percentage you want to add.
  3. Read the selling price, the markup amount and your margin.

Worked example

Your cost is $100 and you want a 50% markup. The selling price is $150, the markup amount is $50, and your margin is 33.33%. Markup is against cost; margin is against the selling price — which is why 50% markup is a 33.33% margin.

The math

selling price = cost x (1 + markup / 100)

markup amount = selling price - cost

margin = markup / (100 + markup) x 100

A 50% markup means you add half the cost. Because margin is measured against the final price, it comes out lower than the markup.

Frequently asked questions

What is a markup calculator?

It turns a cost and a markup percentage into a selling price. It also shows the markup amount added and the resulting margin, so you can see both pricing views at once.

What is the difference between markup and margin?

Markup is added to cost; margin is measured against the selling price. A 50% markup produces only a 33.33% margin because the two percentages use different bases.

How do I set a target margin instead?

Use the margin-to-markup relation: markup = margin / (100 - margin) x 100. Or enter your cost and work backwards from the price you want.

Is markup the same as profit?

Markup becomes gross profit only if there are no other costs. Extra costs (shipping, fees) reduce the profit below the markup amount.

Why does my margin look lower than my markup?

They measure from different starting points. Margin divides profit by the selling price; markup divides it by cost, so margin is always the smaller percentage for the same profit.

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