Markup Calculator

Set a selling price from cost and markup %.

Reviewed by The QuickCalc Editorial Team · Last updated · About our methodology

Enter your details

Result

Selling price
R160,00
Profit per unit
R60,00

Inputs & results at a glance

Updates live as you change the form above.

ItemTypeValue
CostInputR100,00
MarkupInput60%
Selling priceResultR160,00
ProfitResultR60,00

About this calculator

A markup calculator turns a cost figure plus a markup percentage into a selling price. Enter the cost of an item and the markup you want to apply, and the calculator returns the selling price along with the profit per unit.

Markup is calculated on cost. A 50% markup on a R100 cost gives a R50 profit and a R150 selling price. Note that this is different from margin, which is profit as a percentage of revenue: the same R50 profit on R150 revenue is a 33.3% margin. Retailers habitually confuse the two, so if you're comparing pricing between suppliers, always confirm which measure they're quoting.

Typical markups vary widely by industry in South Africa. Grocery retailers might run 15–30% markups; independent fashion boutiques often price at 100–200%; restaurant drink markups regularly hit 300–400%. Setting the right markup starts from your target margin, your break-even volume (see our Break-even Calculator) and what customers will actually pay in your market segment.

How to use it

  1. 1Enter the cost. The unit cost including landed cost, freight and duties.
  2. 2Enter the markup percentage. The percentage above cost you want to charge.
  3. 3Read the selling price. The recommended price to the customer.
  4. 4Read the profit per unit. The Rand profit built into the price.

How it works

Markup is calculated on cost. The calculator multiplies the cost you enter by (1 + Markup%) to get the selling price, and the difference between selling price and cost is the profit per unit.

Retailers frequently confuse markup with margin. A 50% markup produces a 33.3% margin on the same product because the denominator changes (cost vs revenue). Always confirm which one a supplier or competitor is quoting before benchmarking.

Formula

Selling price = Cost × (1 + Markup%); Profit = Selling price − Cost

Cost = your landed unit cost; Markup% = percentage above cost; Selling price = what you charge the customer.

Worked examples

Cost R100, 60% markup

Selling price R160. Profit R60. Margin 37.5%.

Cost R250, 100% markup

Selling price R500. Profit R250. Margin 50%.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between markup and margin?

Markup is profit as a % of COST. Margin is profit as a % of REVENUE. A 50% markup gives you a 33% margin on the same product.

How do I convert markup to margin?

Margin = Markup ÷ (1 + Markup). So a 100% markup = 50% margin, and a 50% markup = 33.3% margin.

What's a typical retail markup in South Africa?

Fashion often runs 100–200% markup; grocery 15–30%; restaurants 200–400% on drinks. Industry norms vary widely.

Should I include VAT?

Use VAT-exclusive figures. Output VAT isn't your profit; it's a pass-through to SARS.

How do I set the right markup?

Start with your target margin and required break-even (see our Break-even Calculator), then reverse-engineer the markup needed.

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