📖 Overview

This calculator approximates ecommerce order profitability after marketplace fees and shipping drag.

It helps sellers stress test margins across destinations and item weights.

🧪 Example Scenarios

Use these default and higher-pressure example inputs to explore how sensitive this calculator is before using your real numbers.

InputBase CaseHigher Pressure Case
Sale Price ($)4250.4
Item Weight (lb)1.61.84
Destination ZIP Code (US)90,210103,741
Product Cost ($)1416.8
Packaging Cost ($)2.53

⚙️ How It Works

Estimates order margin by combining platform and payment fees with shipping drag inferred from weight and destination zone.

The Formula

Net Profit = Sale Price − Product Cost − Packaging − Shipping − Platform Fee − Processing Fee
Sale PriceCustomer paid price before costs
WeightPacked shipment weight used for billable estimate
Destination ZIPUsed for heuristic shipping zone estimate
Product CostCOGS per item
Packaging CostPer-order packaging expense
💡This calculator is scenario-based. Better input quality leads to better decision quality.
⚠️Shipping is estimated without live carrier APIs. Use this tool for margin planning not final postage quotes.

Quick Reference

Order ValueWeightFee+Ship DragTypical Margin Impact
$251 lb$6-$10High pressure
$402 lb$8-$14Moderate pressure
$702 lb$10-$16More manageable

When To Use This

  • Use this tool when you need a fast decision during active planning or execution.
  • Use this before committing money, time, or tradeoffs that are hard to reverse.
  • Use this to compare options using the same assumptions across scenarios.

Edge Cases To Watch

  • Results can be misleading if key inputs are missing, stale, or unrealistic.
  • Very small or very large values may amplify rounding effects and interpretation risk.
  • If assumptions change mid-decision, recalculate before acting.

Practical Tips

💡 Stress test low-ticket products first because fixed fees bite hardest.
💡 Bundle products to spread packaging and fixed fee burden.
💡 Track actual shipped cost and recalibrate your zone assumptions monthly.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Why is destination ZIP included?

Zone distance strongly affects postage and therefore net profit.

❓ Is this Etsy only or Shopify only?

It uses a blended fee model for quick planning and should be adjusted to your exact platform stack.