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Markup Calculator

Free online markup calculator. Enter cost price and markup percentage to find selling price, profit amount, and profit margin. Understand the difference between markup vs margin with formulas and examples.

Markup Calculator

Enter your cost price and markup percentage to calculate the selling price, profit amount, and profit margin.

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Markup vs. Margin

Markup and margin are both ways to express profit, but they divide by different numbers — and confusing them can lead to serious pricing mistakes.

Markup: Profit ÷ Cost × 100. A 50% markup on a $40 item gives a $20 profit and a $60 selling price.

Margin: Profit ÷ Selling Price × 100. That same $20 profit on a $60 selling price is a 33.3% margin.

Rule of thumb: margin is always lower than markup for any profitable product. Use the calculator above to see both figures side by side.

Typical Markup by Industry

Grocery: 10–25%

Clothing & Apparel: 100–350%

Restaurants: 200–400% on beverages, 100–150% on food

Jewelry: 300–500%

Consumer Electronics: 3–10%

How to Calculate Markup

Markup is the percentage added to the cost of a product to determine its selling price. The formula is: Selling Price = Cost × (1 + Markup%). For example, if a product costs $50 and you want a 60% markup, the selling price is $50 × 1.60 = $80.

To find the markup percentage from known prices: Markup% = ((Selling Price - Cost) / Cost) × 100. If you buy something for $25 and sell it for $40, your markup is (($40 - $25) / $25) × 100 = 60%.

Markup is commonly used in retail, wholesale, and manufacturing to ensure each sale covers costs and generates profit. The right markup depends on your industry, competition, and operating expenses.

Markup vs Margin: Key Differences

Markup and margin are related but not the same. Markup is based on cost; margin is based on selling price. A 100% markup results in a 50% margin. This distinction is critical for pricing strategy.

How to Set the Right Markup

Your markup should cover all costs and leave room for profit. Consider: direct costs (materials, labor), overhead (rent, utilities, insurance), and desired profit margin.

Research competitor pricing to stay competitive. If your costs are higher, you may need to differentiate on quality or service rather than competing on price alone.

Test different price points. Sometimes a higher markup with fewer sales generates more profit than a lower markup with higher volume. Use this calculator to model different scenarios and find your optimal pricing strategy.

Markup to Margin Conversion

MarkupMarginExample (Cost $50)
25%20%Sell for $62.50
50%33.3%Sell for $75
100%50%Sell for $100
200%66.7%Sell for $150

Common Markup Percentages by Industry

IndustryTypical MarkupNotes
Grocery5-15%High volume, low margins
Clothing retail100-300%Keystone (100%) is standard
Restaurants200-400%On food; beverages higher
Jewelry100-400%Varies by piece type
Electronics10-50%Competitive, lower markups

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