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Price Change Volume Calculator

Find the sales volume that preserves contribution after a price change, with whole-unit rounding and the percentage change from old sales.

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

Required units = old units × (old price − variable cost) ÷ (new price − variable cost)

Both prices must exceed variable cost because this model preserves a positive contribution base. The percentage compares the rounded whole-unit requirement with original whole units. A negative change allows fewer units, while a positive one requires more. With zero original units the percentage is undefined. Fixed costs must remain unchanged. The result is a threshold, not a forecast of customer demand.

Worked example: Price rise permits a smaller volume

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
Current selling price $50
Proposed selling price $60
Variable cost per unit $30
Current units sold 300 units
Outputs from the displayed inputs
ResultCalculated value
Whole units to retain contribution 200 units
Change in whole-unit volume -33.33%
Original total contribution $6,000

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: OpenStax: Break-Even Points in Units and Dollars. Checked October 22, 2026. Contribution and cost-volume-profit relationships; examples are independently constructed.

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