My supplier sells a carton of 48 for 180 and the shop sells singles at 4.5 each: how do I see the per-piece price and the saving?

The result as the tool shows it

• Supplier carton: 180 for 48 pieces, so 3.75 per piece, labelled Best value.
• Shop single: 4.5 per piece, labelled 20% more expensive.
• Add a third option, say a pack of 10 for 40, and it works out at 4 per piece, 6.67% more than the carton.

The gap between 3.75 and 4.5 is 0.75 a piece. Across a full carton that is 0.75 × 48 = 36, and across ten cartons a month it is 360. The percentage tells you which option is cheaper; multiplying by your volume tells you whether it matters.

Steps

1. Open the Unit-price comparison tool, type Supplier carton as the first option's name, 180 as the price, 48 as the quantity, and choose piece as the unit.
2. For the second option type Singles, 4.5 as the price and 1 as the quantity, in the same unit.
3. Add more options if the supplier offers packs or cartons in other sizes, up to six.
4. Read the table, and use Copy result if you want to send it to a partner.

The per-piece price is your cost when you resell

If you buy the carton to sell the pieces in your store, 3.75 is your product cost before shipping, packing and platform fees. Add each piece's share of those costs, then work out the selling price that gives the profit you want with the Selling-price calculator. If you already have a selling price, check your margin on it with the Profit margin calculator.

What the comparison leaves out

• Shelf life: 48 pieces of a food product are no bargain if half expire before they sell.
• Cash tied up: you pay 180 up front instead of 4.5 as needed, and that money might be needed elsewhere.
• Space: a carton needs room in the storeroom or at home.
• Tax: compare both prices the same way, both including tax or both before it, because the tool assumes you did.