Free Tool

Markup Calculator | How to Calculate Markup

Calculate markup percentage from cost and selling price. Free tool with markup formula, margin vs markup comparison, and pricing examples.

What is Markup?

Markup is the amount added to the cost price to determine the selling price. It's expressed as a percentage of the cost.

Markup = ((Selling Price - Cost) / Cost) × 100%
Markup is based on COST, Margin is based on PRICE

Enter Cost and Price

Enter your cost and desired selling price to calculate markup percentage.

Cost to produce/acquire
Price customer pays

Your Markup Results

Markup Percentage
-
Markup as % of cost
Profit Margin
-
Profit as % of price
Profit Amount
-
Gross profit dollars

Markup vs Margin Comparison

Markup -
Margin -
Multiplier -

Markup uses cost as the denominator, while margin uses price. A 50% markup = 33% margin.

Common Markup Benchmarks

Retail: 50-100% markup (keystone pricing)
Restaurants: 200-300% markup on food
Wholesale: 15-30% markup
Grocery: 10-25% markup (low margin, high volume)

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Get our free guide with markup formulas, pricing strategies, and industry benchmarks.

How to Calculate Markup: Complete Guide

Markup is a pricing strategy that adds a percentage to the cost of goods. It ensures you cover costs and generate profit. Understanding markup is essential for retail, wholesale, and service businesses.

Markup Formula Examples

Example 1: Retail Markup

Cost: $50 | Selling Price: $75
Markup = (($75 - $50) / $50) × 100% = 50% markup
Margin = (($75 - $50) / $75) × 100% = 33% margin

Example 2: Keystone Pricing

Cost: $100 | Selling Price: $200
Markup = (($200 - $100) / $100) × 100% = 100% markup
This is called "keystone" pricing in retail

Markup vs Margin: What's the Difference?

Markup and margin are often confused, but they measure different things. Markup is based on cost (how much you add to the cost), while margin is based on selling price (what percentage of the price is profit). For example, a 50% markup equals a 33% margin.

Markup Calculator FAQ

How do I calculate markup in Excel?

Use the formula: =((Selling_Price - Cost) / Cost) * 100. This gives you the markup percentage based on cost.

What is a good markup percentage?

A good markup varies by industry. Retail typically uses 50-100% markup. Restaurants use 200-300% on food. Wholesale is usually 15-30%. Research your industry's standard markup.

How to calculate selling price from cost and markup?

Use the formula: Selling Price = Cost × (1 + Markup%). For example, with $50 cost and 50% markup: $50 × 1.50 = $75 selling price.