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Price per Unit Comparison Calculator

Unit price comparison between two pack sizes. The larger pack is not reliably cheaper per unit, and supermarkets price the exceptions deliberately.

Also called: unit price comparison, which is cheaper.

₹
₹
%
Better value
The second is better value

The second is better value. The first is ₹0 per unit and the second ₹0, a difference of 12.46%. Buying the cheaper per unit saves ₹0 on each one.

Per unit, first
₹0
Per unit, second
₹0
Difference per unit
₹0
Percentage difference
12.46%
Second after discount
₹499
How this is calculated
Method and background

How this is calculated

Divide price by quantity for each and compare. The reason to do this rather than assume is that the bigger pack being cheaper per unit is a habit rather than a rule: retailers price a large pack above the small one per unit often enough that it has a name, and shelf-edge unit pricing exists because of it. Make sure both quantities are in the same unit before comparing.

price over quantity, which is the only comparison that survives different pack sizes
P
Price
q
Quantity

Worked examples

Each of these is asserted on every build. If a change to the engine ever moved one of these answers, the build would fail before the page could print it.

a small pack against a large

Price of the first
₹285
Quantity of the first
1,000
Price of the second
₹499
Quantity of the second
2,000
Discount on the second
0%

Better valueThe second is better value

285/1000 against 499/2000

Open this example

identical unit prices tie

Price of the first
₹100
Quantity of the first
100
Price of the second
₹200
Quantity of the second
200
Discount on the second
0%

Better valueThey cost the same per unit

boundary

Open this example

Method and limits

What it assumes

  • Both quantities are in the same unit.

What it deliberately does not model

  • It ignores waste. A cheaper large pack you do not finish is not cheaper.

Formula version 1.0.0 · definition 1.0.0 · India · Report a problem with this calculator

Frequently asked questions

Is the bigger pack always cheaper per unit?
No, and reliably enough not that shelf-edge unit pricing was mandated. Check rather than assume.