All calculators

Calculator · Break-Even

Target Profit Units Calculator

Calculate whole units for an operating profit target and see the revenue and profit at that rounded volume, with positive contribution required.

By PriceAndProfit Editorial Updated

$
$
$
$

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

Clear

Formula and cost boundary

Required whole units = ceil((fixed costs + target operating profit) ÷ (price − variable cost))

Use one period for fixed cost, target and sales. The target is operating profit before items outside the chosen cost model, not owner take-home cash. A price at or below variable cost is rejected by this positive-contribution model. The displayed revenue corresponds to whole units, unlike the continuous theoretical revenue in the original break-even calculator.

Worked example: Round to sellable units

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
Fixed costs for the period $4,500
Target operating profit $500
Selling price per unit $18
Variable cost per unit $11
Outputs from the displayed inputs
ResultCalculated value
Whole units required 715 units
Revenue at whole units $12,870
Operating profit at whole units $505

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.

Related calculators & guides