HomeEveryday maths
Profit and loss calculator
Profit or loss, as a percentage of cost, from cost and selling price.
Quick answer
Enter the cost price and the selling price. Buying at ₹800 and selling at ₹1,000 gives a ₹200 profit, which is 25% of the cost.
Profit
₹200.00
- Profit percentage (on cost)
- 25.00%
- Margin (on selling price)
- 20.00%
How it works
Profit percentage in school maths is on the cost price. Shopkeepers often quote margin, which is on the selling price, so the two figures differ.
If the selling price is below the cost price the result is a loss, shown with the same percentages.
To hit a target profit, work backwards: selling price = cost × (1 + profit%).
The formula
- Profit = selling price − cost price (a negative result is a loss)
- Profit % = profit ÷ cost price × 100
- Margin % = profit ÷ selling price × 100
A worked example
Cost ₹800, sold for ₹1,000: profit = ₹200. Profit % = 200 ÷ 800 × 100 = 25%. Margin = 200 ÷ 1,000 × 100 = 20%.
Common questions
What is the difference between margin and markup?
Markup is profit on cost (25% in the example). Margin is profit on the selling price (20% in the example).
How do I find the selling price for a target profit?
Multiply the cost by (1 + profit% ÷ 100). For 25% on ₹800: 800 × 1.25 = ₹1,000.
Is loss percentage also on cost?
Yes, in standard school maths: loss ÷ cost price × 100.
Does it include expenses like rent?
No. Enter your total cost including any expenses to get true profit.