Discount / Margin Calculator

Find out the real margin at various discount levels. Ideal for sales campaigns – know how much you really keep and what ROAS you need.

Original product price

Cost of goods sold

Discount percentage from list price

Packaging, payment fees, etc. (optional)

Results

Margin per Unit
---
---
Sale Price after Discount: ---
Total Costs: ---

How we calculate it

Sale Price = List Price × (1 - Discount / 100)
Total Costs = COGS + Extra Costs
Margin = Sale Price - Total Costs
Margin % = (Margin / Sale Price) × 100

Example

List Price $100, COGS $50, Discount 20%, Extra Costs $5:
Sale Price = 100 × 0.8 = $80
Total Costs = 50 + 5 = $55
Margin = 80 - 55 = $25
Margin % = 25 / 80 × 100 = 31.25%

Why is it important?

A discount reduces margin faster than you think. A 20% discount doesn't mean a 20% lower margin. With a low original margin, a discount can mean a loss.

Tips

  • Be careful with discounts over 15% if your margin is under 30%
  • Consider bundles: higher AOV with the same or lower discount
  • Recalculate break-even ROAS: you need higher ROAS with a lower margin
  • Track margin per order, not just revenue

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why does giving a 20% discount not mean losing only 20% of profit?

Because you give the discount from revenue, but pay it from profit. If your margin is 30%, and you give a 15% discount, you have sacrificed half of your profit (50%), not just 15%. This concept of "Discount vs Margin Impact" is the most common cause of e-shop bankruptcy.

What extra costs (fees) should I include?

Never forget payment gateway fees (approx. 1-2% of price with VAT), packaging material (box, tape), and any cost for subsidized shipping. If you sell for $20 and these costs are $3, your real margin is completely different.

What is Break-even ROAS with a discount?

When you lower the price with a discount, you lower your margin. Lower margin means you need higher ROAS (return) from advertising to not be at a loss. With a 50% discount, your break-even ROAS often doubles.

Why it matters

Understanding the relationship between discount and margin is a question of survival. Many e-shops give discounts "randomly" or copy competitors ("everyone has Black Friday -20%"), without calculating that with their margin such a discount will reduce profit by 80%.

This calculator protects you from the "discount trap". Always calculate the impact on margin first, then push banners.

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