Determine total costs and generate a scaled pricing table based on fixed and variable unit rates.
Total Calculation Result
0.00
Projected Rate Table
Quantity (Units)
Variable Cost
Total Cost (Incl. Base)
Effective Rate per Unit
Understanding Rate Table Calculations
A rate table is a fundamental tool used in logistics, manufacturing, and service industries to visualize how costs scale with volume. It accounts for two primary components: Fixed Base Fees and Variable Unit Rates.
How the Calculation Works
The math behind a standard rate table follows a linear progression formula:
Total Cost = Base Fee + (Rate per Unit × Quantity)
Key Components of a Rate Table
Base Setup Fee: This is a one-time cost applied regardless of volume. In logistics, this might be a handling fee; in manufacturing, it is often a machine setup cost.
Variable Rate: The incremental cost added for every single unit processed.
Effective Rate: Calculated as (Total Cost / Quantity). This metric is crucial because it demonstrates "economies of scale"—as the quantity increases, the impact of the fixed base fee is diluted, lowering the cost per unit.
Practical Example
Imagine a professional printing service with a 50.00 base setup fee and a 2.00 rate per page. If you print 10 pages, your total cost is 70.00 (7.00 per page). However, if you print 100 pages, your total cost is 250.00, bringing your effective rate down to 2.50 per page. Using a rate table allows businesses to set profitable pricing tiers and helps customers understand the value of bulk orders.
function calculateRateTable() {
var baseFee = parseFloat(document.getElementById('baseFee').value) || 0;
var unitRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('unitRate').value) || 0;
var totalQuantity = parseFloat(document.getElementById('totalQuantity').value) || 0;
if (totalQuantity 0 ? (totalCost / totalQuantity) : 0;
// Display specific result
document.getElementById('specificTotal').innerText = totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('resultBreakdown').innerText = "For " + totalQuantity + " units at a rate of " + unitRate.toFixed(2) + " per unit + " + baseFee.toFixed(2) + " base.";
// Generate Table
var tableBody = document.getElementById('rateTableBody');
tableBody.innerHTML = ""; // Clear old rows
var increments = [1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000];
// Add the user's specific quantity if it's not in the list
if (totalQuantity > 0 && !increments.includes(totalQuantity)) {
increments.push(totalQuantity);
increments.sort(function(a, b) { return a – b; });
}
for (var i = 0; i < increments.length; i++) {
var qty = increments[i];
var variableCost = unitRate * qty;
var tCost = baseFee + variableCost;
var eRate = tCost / qty;
var row = document.createElement('tr');
if(qty === totalQuantity) row.style.background = "#fff9c4"; // Highlight user input row
row.innerHTML = '