Shipping Cost Difference Calculator
See whether the shipping charge actually covers postage, packaging, handling time, and fees — per order and per month.
- 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.
Shipping charged
$5.00
True shipping cost
$8.87
Includes $2.67 handling
Per order
−$3.87
Monthly total
−$154.67
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
True cost = Postage + Packaging + (Minutes ÷ 60 × Hourly) + (Charged × Fee%) · Per order = Charged − True cost · Monthly = Per order × Orders
Worked example
$5 charged, $4.50 postage, $1.20 packaging, 8 min at $20/hr, 10% fee, 40 orders.
- Handling = 0.133 × 20 = $2.67
- Fee on ship = $0.50
- True cost = 4.50 + 1.20 + 2.67 + 0.50 = $8.87
- Per order = 5 − 8.87 = −$3.87
Answer: Losing $3.87 per order → $154.80/month
How it works
Handling time is where most sellers underestimate — 8 minutes per order isn't free, and at scale it dominates. Under-charging shipping is one of the fastest hidden profit leaks.
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
- Skipping handling time.
- Forgetting the platform fee on the shipping charge.
- Only checking postage without packaging.
Related Guides
Go deeper with plain-English guides on the same topic.
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FAQ
- Should shipping break even or profit?
- Break-even including handling is the honest target. Turning shipping into a profit line is unusual.
- How is this different from Shipping Price Calculator?
- This one isolates the shipping line. Shipping Price prices the item so the entire order is profitable.
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.
What to calculate next
You may also find these tools helpful.
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Packaging cost per order or product.
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