Break-Even Units Calculator
Find how many units you must sell to break even, counting per-unit costs and percentage fees, plus units per day and units for a profit goal.
This calculator answers one practical question: how many units do I have to sell before I stop losing money? Unlike a basic break-even formula, it lets you add costs that scale with the price — card processing, marketplace commission or a salesperson's cut — and turns the answer into a daily sales target, so you can judge whether the number is realistic for your shop, stall or online store.
How to use this tool
- Enter your fixed costs for the period, such as a month.
- Enter the selling price and the variable cost of making and shipping one unit.
- Add fees and commissions charged as a percentage of the price.
- Optionally set a profit goal, and enter how many days you sell in the period.
Formula
Contribution per unit = Price − Unit cost − Price × Fee %
Break-even units = Fixed costs ÷ Contribution per unit
Units for a goal = (Fixed costs + Profit goal) ÷ Contribution per unit
The exact result is rounded up, because selling one unit short of it still leaves a small loss. Units per day divides the exact break-even point by your selling days.
Example
A candle maker has $8,000 of fixed costs a month, sells each candle for $45, spends $18 on materials and shipping and pays 5% in card and platform fees ($2.25). Each candle contributes $24.75, so break-even is 8,000 ÷ 24.75 = 323.23, or 324 candles — about 10.77 a day over 30 days, and $14,545 of theoretical revenue. Selling 324 whole candles produces $14,580 of revenue.
Frequently asked questions
Why include percentage fees separately?
Payment and marketplace fees rise with the price, so treating them as a fixed dollar amount understates costs when you test a higher price. Entering them as a percentage keeps the result correct at any price.
What if the calculator says there is no break-even point?
This model requires a positive contribution per unit. With zero contribution, sales cannot cover positive fixed costs; a negative contribution makes losses grow with volume. Zero fixed costs and positive contribution need zero units to break even.
How do I lower my break-even units?
Increase the contribution per unit — a higher price, cheaper materials or lower fees — or cut fixed costs. A small rise in contribution often removes many units from the target.
Last updated: 2026-10-30