Free calculator, no sign-up
What price to sell your cosmetic product at, and how much to pay your manufacturer
This cosmetic pricing calculator takes five questions and margin assumptions by channel, and gives you your retail price, your margin and the purchase price not to exceed.
- 47 public sources cited
- 8 sales channels
- Built by the manufacturer of 500+ brands
Let’s talk about your product
A project manager reviews your request. You can attach your simulation to explain your price target.
If the form does not appear, request your consultation on our contact page.
View the attached simulation
No commitment. This simulation is not a quote. Your contact details are used to process your request. Privacy policy.
Channel by channel
Our benchmarks
Real margins, not guesses
Each rate comes from an annual report, a competition authority opinion, a fee schedule or a price survey. Everything is sourced and verifiable.
Coefficient by positioning
How the calculation works
- Retail price excl. VAT = price incl. VAT ÷ (1 + VAT).
- The retailer buys at the price excl. VAT × (1 − its margin). The distributor, if there is one, takes its margin on that price.
- What remains is your selling price excl. VAT. We subtract commissions, marketing, promotion, the purchase price and logistics: what is left is your margin.
- Maximum purchase price = selling price excl. VAT × (1 − commissions − marketing − promotion − target margin) − logistics.
- Coefficient = retail price excluding taxes ÷ purchase price. It does not depend on the VAT rate, so countries can be compared.
- Typical margin range: the margin you get when your retail price stays within the coefficient range for your positioning (see our benchmarks), with your channel’s margins and costs.
Indicative results. Middleman margins vary by retailer, country and your agreements.
The 47 sources, with their links
Quote above your maximum purchase price? Six ways to bring it down
- 01A stock bottle
A bottle the manufacturer already lists avoids tooling costs and costs less than a custom model.
- 02An adapted existing formula
Starting from an already validated formula reduces development and the number of stability tests you pay for.
- 03Simpler decoration
A well-designed label costs less than multi-color screen printing or hot stamping.
- 04The carton, only if it earns its place
Pharmacies and perfumeries often expect one. When selling online, many brands go without.
- 05Shared components
The same bottle and the same pump across several products: you buy more of each component, so it costs less.
- 06Comparable quotes
Check what each quote includes: filling, quality control, Product Information File (PIF), safety assessment.
FAQ
Cosmetic pricing calculator: frequently asked questions
Is the calculator really free?
Yes. You answer the five questions and the result appears right away, with no sign-up and no email. No payment, no commitment.
Do I need to manufacture with Carmel to use it?
No. The calculation applies to any manufacturer. Use your maximum purchase price to compare and negotiate all your quotes.
Where do the retailer margins come from?
From annual reports of cosmetics groups and retailers, competition authority opinions and public commission schedules. The 47 sources are listed above, with their links.
I sell through several channels: which price should I show?
Select all your channels. The calculator suggests a single retail price, set by the most demanding channel, so your product costs the same everywhere. You can also show a price per channel.
Can I rely on the results to negotiate?
They are solid orders of magnitude, not a quote. Margins vary by retailer, country and your agreements. If you know yours, correct them in “Check our assumptions”.
My maximum purchase price is too low: what can I do?
Change channel or positioning, apply the six levers above, or request a free consultation. A project manager reviews with you the feasibility of the product, the formulation and packaging options and your price target. The simulation is not a quote and does not guarantee a manufacturing price.
What happens if I request a consultation?
You enter your product and your contact details in the form. The “Attach my simulation” box is optional: unchecked, no simulation is attached. A project manager reviews your request, with no commitment. The manufacturing price will be set in the quote.
The first question we get is almost always: how much does a bottle cost? It comes too early. First you need to know what your customer will pay, what the pharmacy, the distributor or the marketplace will keep, and what will be left for you.
Without that number, you negotiate blind and find out too late that a product leaves no margin. We built this calculator so you arrive at your first manufacturer meeting with your maximum purchase price in hand, with us or elsewhere.
You have your maximum purchase price: let’s review your project
Talk about your product with a Carmel project manager. They review its feasibility, your price target and the formulation and packaging options. The manufacturing price will be set in the quote, with no guarantee that it matches the simulation. More than 500 brands, in more than 35 countries, have already trusted us with their manufacturing.
Disclaimer. This calculator gives orders of magnitude, for information only. Results depend on the assumptions entered and on averages from public sources; they are neither financial, legal or tax advice, nor a price offer from Carmel Cosmetics Labs. Retailer margins, commissions, taxes and logistics costs vary by country, retailer and your agreements. Before setting your price, do your own research: competitor prices on the shelf and online, the actual terms of your distributors, quotes from your suppliers and, if needed, the advice of an accountant. The selling price remains your decision.