Markup Calculator
Give it any two of cost, selling price, markup %, or margin % and it fills in the rest — including the markup-to-margin conversion most pricing mistakes come from.
Pricing inputs
Enter a cost and a markup or margin percentage.
How to use this calculator
1. Pick what you are solving for
The "Solve for" menu decides which box disappears. Choose Selling price when you know your cost and the rate you want to hit, Cost when you are working backwards from a shelf price, or Markup % / Margin % when you already have both numbers and want to know how good the deal is.
2. Fill in the two numbers you have
Markup % and margin % are two descriptions of one profit, so they move together — type into either and the other updates instantly. That pair alone never sets a price, which is why the calculator always asks for a cost or a selling price alongside it.
3. Read all five outputs
Cost, selling price, profit per unit, markup, and margin are shown every time, no matter which one you solved for. The price multiplier tells you the quick shortcut: 2.000× means "double the cost".
4. Keep the conversion table
The Markup → margin tab converts the rates buyers and accountants quote most often, priced against your own cost. Download it as CSV or print it and tape it to the register — it removes the guesswork from everyday repricing.
About markup and margin
What is the difference between markup and margin?
Both describe the same profit, measured against different bases. Markup divides the profit by the cost, so it can exceed 100%. Margin divides the same profit by the selling price, so it can never reach 100%. Doubling a $25 cost to $50 is a 100% markup and a 50% margin. Our profit margin calculator approaches the same figures from the revenue side and adds operating expenses.
How do you convert markup to margin?
Margin = markup ÷ (1 + markup), with both written as decimals. A 40% markup becomes 0.40 ÷ 1.40 = 28.6% margin. Going the other way, markup = margin ÷ (1 − margin), so a 30% margin needs a 42.9% markup.
How do I price an item from a target margin?
Divide the cost by one minus the margin: price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). For a $4.20 plate at a 72% margin, that is 4.20 ÷ 0.28 = $15.00. Multiplying the cost by the margin instead is the most common pricing mistake, and it always underprices the item.
What markup is typical in retail?
Keystone pricing — a 100% markup, or double the cost — is the traditional retail default and produces a 50% margin. Groceries often run far lower, jewelry and apparel far higher, and restaurants price food at roughly a 250–300% markup to cover labour, rent, and waste.