Break-even Calculator
Find how many units you need to sell to break even. Free. No signup required.
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INSTANT · FREEIf your unit price does not exceed variable cost, sales alone cannot cover fixed costs.
How to use this calculator
Find how many whole units you need to sell to cover your entered fixed costs. Each sale contributes the selling price minus the variable cost toward those fixed costs.
- Enter the fixed costs for the period you want to assess.
- Enter your selling price per unit and variable cost per unit.
- Read the contribution from each sale and the required whole-unit sales count.
- Use revenue at break-even to see the sales revenue at that rounded-up unit count.
Calculation formulas
- Contribution per unit = selling price − variable cost per unit
- Units to break even = fixed costs ÷ contribution per unit, rounded up
- Revenue at break-even = rounded-up units × selling price
Covering $1,500 in fixed costs
Fixed costs: $1,500 · Price per unit: $40 · Variable cost per unit: $15
- Contribution per unit
- $25.00
- Units to break even
- 60
- Revenue at break-even
- $2,400.00
Each sale leaves $25 to cover fixed costs. Selling 60 units contributes $1,500. The $2,400 in revenue covers $900 of variable costs and $1,500 of fixed costs.
Useful to know
Use fixed costs for one consistent period, such as a month. The calculation assumes the same price and variable cost for every unit. Taxes and expenses not entered are excluded.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fixed cost versus a variable cost?
A fixed cost is an amount you are treating as unchanged for the chosen period, such as monthly rent. A variable cost is an amount associated with each unit, such as materials or packaging. Put each cost in the field that matches your calculation.
Why are the units rounded up?
You cannot sell a fraction of a whole unit in this model. If the calculation gives 60.2 units, you need 61 units to cover the entered costs.
Why does the calculator say Not achievable?
The unit price does not exceed the variable cost, so there is no positive contribution toward fixed costs. The model needs a positive contribution to calculate a break-even sales count.
Is revenue at break-even the same as profit?
No. Revenue is the money from sales before costs are subtracted. At the rounded-up break-even count, the contribution covers the entered fixed costs, with a small surplus possible because of rounding.