Break-Even Units Calculator
Quickly determine how many units your business must sell to cover every dollar of fixed and variable expenses. Enter your overhead, selling price, and per-unit costs to reveal the break-even volume, then use the insight to set revenue goals, evaluate new product launches, or negotiate pricing with confidence.
This is an estimate. Consult a financial professional for a full break-even analysis.
Examples
- Cafe with $5,000 monthly fixed costs, $6.50 price, and $2.75 variable cost breaks even at 1,333 cups.
- Software firm spending $12,000 on overhead, charging $49 per license, and incurring $18 per user needs 436 licenses to break even.
- Artisan selling a $120 product with $45 variable cost and $4,500 fixed cost must sell 60 units to cover costs.
FAQ
What if the selling price equals the variable cost?
The contribution margin is zero, so the break-even quantity is infinite.
Should I round the result?
Yes. Because you cannot sell a fraction of a unit, round the break-even quantity up to the nearest whole unit.
What counts as fixed costs?
Expenses that stay the same regardless of production volume such as rent, salaried labor, insurance, and most utilities.
How should I interpret the break-even units result?
It is the minimum sales volume required to avoid a loss. Selling more units after that point contributes directly to profit at the per-unit contribution margin.
Additional Information
- Break-even units equal fixed costs divided by contribution margin (selling price minus variable cost).
- The result shows whole units required to recover your investment before profit—round up to the next unit.
- Use the break-even quantity to set sales targets, adjust pricing, or evaluate new product feasibility.
- Monitor contribution margin regularly—discounts, supplier changes, or labor shifts can move the break-even point dramatically.