I have quotes from several suppliers with different pack sizes: how do I line them up to find the cheapest per unit?
Enter each quote as its own option, up to six, with its total price and quantity in the same kind of unit. The tool shows each quote's unit cost, labels the cheapest as Best value, and writes next to every other quote how much more it costs in percent. If delivery charges differ between suppliers, add them to each quote's price before entering it.
Example: six quotes for packaging boxes
I asked six suppliers for the same packaging box, each selling in a different quantity, and entered them with the piece unit:
- Supplier A, 48 boxes for 180: 3.75 each, 25% more expensive.
- Supplier B, 100 boxes for 350: 3.50 each, 16.67% more expensive.
- Supplier C, 24 boxes for 95: 3.9583 each, 31.94% more expensive.
- Supplier D, 500 boxes for 1,600: 3.20 each, 6.67% more expensive.
- Supplier E, 10 boxes for 40: 4.00 each, 33.33% more expensive.
- Supplier F, 1,000 boxes for 3,000: 3.00 each, the Best value.
Add delivery to the price before comparing
Suppose supplier A charges 25 for delivery and supplier D charges 150, while the rest deliver free. Entering A at 205 and D at 1,750, A's box becomes 4.2708 and 42.36% more expensive, and D becomes 3.50, level with B at 16.67%. Comparing without delivery would have put D comfortably in second place, which was not true.
Steps
- In the Unit-price comparison tool, type the supplier's name in Name for each option so the result is easy to read.
- Enter each quote's total price including delivery and fees, the quantity you will receive, and the same unit for all.
- Use Add option for up to six quotes. If you have more, compare in two rounds and carry the winner of the first into the second.
- Use Copy result: it includes each supplier's name, unit cost and verdict.
Cheapest per unit is not always the right pick
- Minimum order: 1,000 boxes for 3,000 means paying it all now and storing the lot.
- Quality and lead time: the tool knows nothing about either.
- Tax: make sure every price includes tax, or every price excludes it, since the tool assumes they are treated the same way.
Once you choose, send the supplier a clear purchase order with the agreed quantity and price using the Purchase-order generator. And if you are the one quoting customers at different quantities, prepare a written quote showing the unit price at each tier with the Quotation generator.
Common questions
Can I add a seventh quote?
No. The limit is six options, and the Add option button stops there with a note explaining why.
What if one offer is free?
The tool says the cheapest option costs zero and explains that the percentage for the others is undefined, because you cannot divide by zero.
Does the tool save supplier prices?
No. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is sent or saved.