Have you ever stood in a store aisle with multiple items in your hands, unsure which offers the best bang for your buck?
I know the feeling, so I often refer to price per unit. You can do it, too, as I have made a simple unit price comparison calculator.
The calculator helps you quickly determine which item gives you the best value for your money.
Using the calculator is simple. You just input the price and quantity of each product, and it does the math for you. This way, you can easily compare prices across different brands or stores and see how much you save with each option.
Next time you’re shopping, let the unit price comparison calculator be your guide to smarter, more cost-effective purchases.
Unit Price Comparison Use Cases
Comparing unit prices ensures you get the most for your money and helps you avoid marketing gimmicks that might make an item seem cheaper.
This is just like the wholesale. You buy more of a product, and in return, you get a better price.
Our calculator calculates the cost per unit of similar products, allowing you to compare their prices effectively.
Consider you are comparing cans vs. bottles of a beverage.
Here’s a simple table to illustrate:
| Product | Total Cost | Quantity (oz) | Price per Ounce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Can of Juice | $2.50 | 12 | $0.21 |
| Bottle of Juice | $4.00 | 20 | $0.20 |
In this example, the juice bottle is the better deal, as the price per ounce is lower.
It is also important to mention that unit price does not always mean better. Let me explain.
If you don’t use a product often and it has a short shelf life, paying for a larger package is unnecessary.
So when does measuring unit price make sense? If you know that a product is regular in your family, getting a larger package almost always makes sense.
Also, buying long-lasting products that don’t expire and that you know you will use eventually, such as rice, makes sense.
Don’t forget to use our handy tool when comparing products at the store. It makes choosing between different sizes and brands much easier.
Unit Price Calculation Formula
To find the unit price, use a simple formula:
Unit Price = Total Price / QuantityWhere:
- Total Price: This is the total price for a pack (e.g., $3)
- Quantity: Units in the pack (e.g. 200g)
NOTE: Our calculator is unit agnostic, meaning it doesn’t matter what unit you use. It could be eaches, g, kg, oz, or any other unit that comes to mind. However, when using our calculator, ensure that both units are consistent, but don’t compare, for example, eaches to ounces, etc.
Using a price-per-unit calculator can make this process even more accessible. Input the total price and quantity, and the calculator does the rest.
Examples of Unit Price Calculations
A 16-ounce jar of peanut butter costs $4.00. Another brand sells a 24-ounce jar for $5.00.
Using our formula, we get the following:
Unit price (16-ounce jar) = $4.00 / 16 = $0.25 per ounce
Unit price (24-ounce jar) = $5.00 / 24 = $0.21 per ounceThe 24-ounce jar is cheaper in this case.
Let’s take another example and compare the price sticker for two packages of pasta. A 12-ounce box costs $1.80, and a 24-ounce box costs $3.60.
Unit price (12-ounce jar) = $1.80 / 12 = $0.15 per ounce
Unit price (24-ounce jar) = $3.60 / 24 = $0.15 per ounceA larger one has the same unit price, so there’s no price advantage.
Unit price calculations can help you make smarter shopping decisions and save money!