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Calculator · Pricing & Margin

Discount Margin Calculator

See how a discount changes sale price, profit dollars and margin on the reduced price, including below-cost sales and a free-item case.

By PriceAndProfit Editorial Updated

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Fill in the fields: the result appears under the form, with the formula below it.

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Formula and cost boundary

Sale price = original price × (1 − discount); margin = (sale price − cost) ÷ sale price

The discount is a share of original price; the resulting margin is a share of the reduced sale price. Enter the cost boundary you want to assess and label it consistently in your records. At a 100% discount the cost remains a loss, but margin has no denominator. This model excludes volume response, refunds and fees unless included in your cost input.

Worked example: 20 percent off

The following inputs are hypothetical values for checking the calculation. They are not recommended prices, wages, margins or platform charges. Keep the units and period shown in each label when replacing them with your own records.

Inputs for this worked example
InputExample value
Original price $100
Unit cost $60
Discount on original price 20%
Outputs from the displayed inputs
ResultCalculated value
Profit after stated unit cost $20
Sale price $80
Margin on sale price 25%

Using the result

Save the input set alongside the source date of each quote or cost record. Review the cost boundary before comparing this result with another report: a contribution measure may exclude overhead, and a cash measure follows payment dates. Display rounding does not change the underlying assumptions. Recalculate when an input changes; the tool does not predict future sales or collections.

Are any rates supplied automatically?

No. Numeric fields are your inputs. Example values demonstrate arithmetic only. Check your contracts and records for the amounts that apply to your business.

Why might a result be unavailable or negative?

A missing denominator or inconsistent inputs can make the calculation undefined. Those combinations are rejected or labeled explicitly. A valid negative result remains visible because it may identify a loss or cash shortfall.

Method reference: UVM Extension: Mark-up and Margins to Set Prices. Checked October 22, 2026. Margin and markup denominators only; historical industry percentages are not reused.

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