Profit Percentage Calculator
Quickly calculate your profit margins and markup percentages
Understanding Profit Percentage
Profit percentage is a crucial financial metric used by businesses and entrepreneurs to determine the profitability of a product or service. It represents the ratio of the profit earned to the cost price, expressed as a percentage. Knowing this number helps in pricing strategies, financial forecasting, and competitive analysis.
The Profit Percentage Formula
To calculate the profit percentage, you first need to find the absolute profit and then divide it by the original cost price. The mathematical formula is:
Practical Example
Let's say you buy a vintage camera for $120 (Cost Price) and sell it on an online marketplace for $180 (Selling Price).
- Find the Profit: $180 – $120 = $60
- Divide Profit by Cost: $60 / $120 = 0.5
- Convert to Percentage: 0.5 × 100 = 50%
In this scenario, your profit percentage is 50%.
Markup vs. Margin: What's the Difference?
While often used interchangeably, they represent different perspectives:
- Markup (Profit Percentage on Cost): This is the percentage calculated above. It shows how much more the selling price is compared to what you paid.
- Profit Margin: This is calculated by dividing the profit by the Selling Price. Using the example above: ($60 / $180) × 100 = 33.33%. This shows how much of every dollar kept is actually profit.