Cost Per Unit (Unit Price) Calculator
Enter the price and quantity of two packages to see the cost per unit of each and which one is the better deal.
| Package A cost per unit | |
| Package B cost per unit | |
| Difference per unit | |
| Savings on the better deal |
How to calculate cost per unit
Cost per unit (also called unit price) is the total price of a package divided by the number of units it contains. The formula is: cost per unit = price ÷ quantity. The unit can be anything you like, such as items, ounces, pounds, liters, or sheets, as long as both packages are measured in the same unit.
Worked example: Package A costs $4.99 for 16 ounces, so its unit price is 4.99 ÷ 16 = $0.3119 per ounce. Package B costs $8.49 for 32 ounces, so its unit price is 8.49 ÷ 32 = $0.2653 per ounce. Package B is cheaper by about $0.0466 per ounce, which is (0.3119 − 0.2653) ÷ 0.3119 ≈ 14.9% less per ounce.
The lower unit price is the better deal on paper. Keep in mind that a bigger package only saves money if you will actually use everything before it expires or goes to waste.
Frequently asked questions
What if the two packages use different units, like ounces and pounds?
Convert both to the same unit before comparing. For example, 1 pound is 16 ounces, so a 2-pound bag is 32 ounces. Enter both quantities in that shared unit and the calculator will compare them correctly.
Is the bigger package always the better deal?
Usually, but not always. Retailers sometimes price smaller sizes lower per unit during promotions, and multipacks are not always cheaper than singles. Always check the unit price rather than assuming.
How is the savings percentage calculated?
It is the difference between the two unit prices divided by the higher unit price, times 100. So if one package is $0.25 per unit and the other is $0.20, the cheaper one saves (0.25 − 0.20) ÷ 0.25 = 20% per unit.