Lot Profit Check
Project profit, ROI, and break-even before buying a wholesale lot, auction win, or storage-unit buyout.
- Free calculator
- Instant estimate
- No signup needed
- Beginner friendly
Enter every amount in the same currency. This selector only changes the symbol shown — it does not convert exchange rates.
Projected lot profit
$42.48
Low Profit / Needs OptimizationProjected ROI
9.6%
Profit margin
4.8%
Break-even items
37
Out of 40 sellable
Total lot investment
$444.00
Projected gross revenue
$880.00
Cost per purchased item
$8.88
Cost per sellable item
$11.10
Projected selling fees
$113.52
Total per-item selling costs
$393.52
Minimum avg selling price
$20.78
Max lot price for break-even
$342.48
Short example
A $300.00 lot with $45.00 buyer fees, $24.00 tax, $40.00 pickup, $35.00 in cleanup/repairs. 50 items, 40 sellable at $22.00 average. After 12.9% fees, packaging, shipping and ads, projected profit ≈ $276.00 on $444.00 invested — ~62% ROI.
All calculations are estimates based on average platform fees. Real profits may vary depending on category, ads, and shipping.
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How to use this calculator
- Enter your numbers in each field above — the calculator updates instantly as you type, so there's nothing to submit.
- Use your real figures when you have them, or sensible estimates while you're planning. If a field doesn't apply, leave it at zero.
- Compare the results, then change one input at a time to see how each lever (price, cost, fees, volume) moves the outcome.
Formula
Lot profit = (Sellable units × Avg price × (1 − Fee%)) − Per-unit variable costs − Total lot investment
Worked example
$300 lot + $45 buyer fee + $24 tax + $40 pickup + $35 prep. 50 items, 40 sellable at $22.
- Total investment = $444
- Gross revenue = $880
- Fees & per-unit variable ≈ $160
- Profit ≈ $276 (~62% ROI)
Answer: $276 projected profit, ~62% ROI
How it works
The trick with lots is that your buy price is only part of the investment — buyer premiums, tax, and pickup often add 30% before you touch the merchandise. Real ROI depends on realistic sellable counts, not total items.
How to interpret your results
- Dollar values are shown per sale, per order, or per item unless a result is explicitly labelled monthly, weekly, or daily.
- Percentages (margin, ROI, conversion rate) are easier to compare across products and price points than raw dollars — use them when you benchmark.
- A positive result means you're ahead after the costs and fees you entered. A negative result means the current numbers don't work — change a lever (raise price, cut a cost, lower ad spend) and recalculate.
- Treat the output as a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Fees, taxes, and conversion rates shift over time — re-run the numbers whenever a key input changes.
Common mistakes
- Treating every item in the lot as sellable — most lots have 20–40% duds.
- Forgetting buyer premiums and tax on the acquisition price.
- Averaging selling price too high — sort inventory by tier and price separately.
Related Guides
Go deeper with plain-English guides on the same topic.
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FAQ
- What's a good ROI on a lot?
- Most flippers target 50–100% ROI on lots to absorb slow-moving items and unexpected duds.
- Should I use my average price or expected top price?
- Use a realistic weighted average across the whole lot.
Why trust this calculator?
This tool uses standard mathematical formulas and commonly accepted calculation methods, shown openly in the Formula section above so you can verify the math yourself. Results are estimates based on the information you enter and do not account for every individual circumstance. For important financial, tax, legal, medical, or business decisions, please double-check with a qualified professional before acting on the numbers.
Keep going
One calculator rarely tells the full story. Pair this one with a related tool below to pressure-test your numbers from a different angle, or browse Selling & Business Calculators for more in the same category.
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