Shipping Cost Calculator
Add up postage, packaging and handling to see your true cost to fulfill an order, and what offering free shipping does to your margin.
Total cost to fulfill an order
The detail behind it
Share of item price
Add to price for free shipping
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How the math works
Total fulfillment cost = postage + packaging + handling.
Share of price = cost ÷ item price. Add to price is the amount to raise price to fully offset free shipping.
What shipping really costs you
Shipping is more than postage. The real cost to get an order out the door includes the carrier charge, the box and packing materials, and the labor to pack and handle it. Add them up and the number is usually higher than sellers expect.
If you offer free shipping, that whole cost comes straight out of your margin, so a $15 fulfillment cost on a $59 item is a 25-point margin hit unless you build it into the price.
Use the 'add to price' figure to set a price that covers free shipping without quietly eating your profit.
Frequently asked questions
What should I include in shipping cost?
Everything it takes to fulfill an order: the carrier/postage charge, packaging and filler, and the handling labor. Leaving out packaging and labor understates the real cost.
Should I offer free shipping?
Free shipping lifts conversion but you pay the full cost. Build it into the item price (use the 'add to price' figure) so your margin stays intact.
How much does shipping eat into margin?
It's the fulfillment cost as a share of price. A $15 cost on a $59 item is roughly a 25% margin hit if you absorb it.
Is it free?
Yes, free with no signup; it runs in your browser.
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