Affiliate Commission Calculator
Estimate your potential earnings based on product price and conversion rates.
How to Calculate Affiliate Commissions
Understanding your potential ROI is critical for any affiliate marketer. This calculator helps you determine how much money you can realistically make from a specific affiliate program by looking at product pricing, commission percentages, and volume.
The Affiliate Formula
Most affiliate programs operate on one of two structures (or a hybrid):
- Percentage-Based: You earn a specific percentage of the total sale price (e.g., 10% of a $100 product = $10).
- Flat-Fee: You earn a fixed dollar amount for every lead or sale, regardless of the purchase price.
The total commission is calculated as: (Price × Commission %) + Flat Fee.
Realistic Example Calculation
Let's say you are promoting a SaaS tool that costs $50 per month. The program offers a 20% commission and a $5 bonus for every signup. If you refer 30 customers in a month:
- Percentage portion: $50 × 0.20 = $10.00
- Fixed portion: $5.00
- Total per sale: $15.00
- Total Monthly Earnings: $15.00 × 30 = $450.00
Factors That Influence Your Affiliate Income
While the math is simple, several variables will impact your final take-home pay:
1. Cookie Duration: This is the window of time after a user clicks your link during which you can still receive credit for a sale. A 30-day cookie is standard; a 24-hour cookie (like Amazon) is much harder to convert.
2. Conversion Rate: Your earnings are directly tied to how many visitors actually buy. If 1,000 people click your link but only 10 buy, your conversion rate is 1%.
3. Recurring vs. One-Time: Recurring commissions (common in software) pay you every month the customer remains active, creating long-term passive income compared to one-time sales.