Business & Freelance tool

Break Even Point Calculator

A break-even point is the units or revenue at which revenue equals total cost - the moment you stop losing money and start making it. The Break Even Point Calculator takes fixed costs, the selling price and the variable cost per unit, then returns the break-even units, the break-even revenue, the contribution margin and a margin of safety for any actual sales figure you set.

It is the most useful early-stage business calculation. Compare a few pricing scenarios in seconds to see which one makes the numbers work, and how many sales you need before the lights come on.
Calculator

Formula used

Break-even units = fixed ÷ (price − variable) · Break-even revenue = units × price

How to use the Break Even Point Calculator

  1. Enter the fixed costs that do not change with sales (rent, salary, software).
  2. Set the price per unit and the variable cost per unit (materials, packaging).
  3. Type the units you expect to sell in a typical month.
  4. Read the break-even point, the margin of safety and the expected profit.

About this tool

The Break Even Point Calculator is built for speed and accuracy: every calculation runs in your browser, so your data never leaves your device and the result updates as you type. It works equally well on a phone, a tablet or a desktop, and it is free to use as many times as you like.

Common use cases

  • Pricing a new product before launch.
  • Comparing two product lines for the same fixed overhead.
  • Working out the minimum sales needed to cover rent.
  • Sizing a marketing budget to clear the break-even line.

Tips for the best result

  • Use the latest figures you have - even a small change in rate or term can shift the outcome by hundreds.
  • For annual figures, divide by 12 to get a monthly number you can compare with the result.
  • Bookmark this page and revisit the calculation as the inputs change.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as a fixed cost?

Anything that does not change with sales volume: rent, salaried staff, software subscriptions, insurance. Materials and shipping are usually variable because they scale with units.

What is the margin of safety?

The gap between expected sales and the break-even point, expressed in units or as a percentage. A margin of safety above 25% is a healthy buffer for a small business.