Wholesale Margin Calculator
Enter cost, wholesale price, and retail price to calculate margin and markup.
Calculator
Use this calculator to work through wholesale margin and markup from three inputs. Cost is your unit expense. Wholesale price is what you sell to a buyer. Retail price is the final shelf price. The outputs show gross margin, markup on cost, and retail margin so you can compare pricing at a glance.
- Margin uses selling price as the denominator. Markup uses cost as the denominator. If wholesale price is below cost, the margin result is negative.
- This calculator returns gross values only. It does not include freight, rebates, spoilage, payment fees, or tax.
- If you need pricing for a catalog, use the output with your actual unit cost and your target channel price.
How the formula works
Wholesale margin measures the share of the selling price that remains after cost. The basic formula is wholesale price minus cost, divided by wholesale price. Markup measures the same spread against cost, so the denominator changes even when the dollar spread stays the same.
Retail margin uses the retail price as the denominator. If you sell to a distributor at one price and a retailer at another, each channel can show a different margin even when the product cost does not change. That is why the calculator keeps the three inputs separate.
You can use the results to test pricing changes before you publish a sheet or negotiate a deal. Enter the unit cost first, then the wholesale price, then the retail price. If any of those numbers changes, the margins change immediately.
- Margin answers how much of the sale remains after cost.
- Markup answers how much you add on top of cost.
- Retail price lets you compare channel spread in the same screen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Margin is based on the selling price. Markup is based on cost. The same dollar spread gives different percentages because the denominator changes.
Can I use this for wholesale and retail pricing?
Yes. Enter unit cost, wholesale price, and retail price. The calculator shows the spread for each step so you can review the channel math in one place.
Why does retail margin matter?
It shows the gap between your wholesale price and the retail shelf price. That helps you see how much room sits in the channel before you set a new price.
Does this include freight or fees?
No. It shows gross math only. If freight, rebates, card fees, or spoilage matter to your deal, add them to your cost before you rely on the result.
Next step
BoxNCase Free costs $0 per month and includes up to 1 store and up to 200 SKUs.[4]
More tools and comparisons
Sources
- [1]BoxNCase Free plan costs $0 per month. BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-02)
- [2]BoxNCase Free plan includes up to 1 store. BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-02)
- [3]BoxNCase Free plan includes up to 200 SKUs. BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-02)
- [4]BoxNCase Free plan features: 1 store; Up to 200 SKUs; BoxNCase marketplace listing; Shared storefront (yourname.myboxncase.com); Stripe Connect payouts. Marketplace listing included; shared partners stack; no custom domain; shared storefront (yourname.myboxncase.com). BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-02)
Last reviewed 2026-09-02. Results are estimates; confirm with your own cost data.