Free tool · runs in your browser
Print-on-demand profit calculator
Enter the retail price, the provider’s base cost and the fees around the order. The calculator shows contribution profit, margin and the ad spend that still leaves you at break-even.
Defaults are illustrative. Provider prices, marketplace fees, shipping and tax rules change; confirm them for your product and destination. VAT and sales tax are not included.
What the calculator counts
It counts the retail price, shipping charged to the buyer, the provider’s base cost, the shipping you pay, marketplace and payment fees, a refund reserve and advertising. The result is contribution profit, not accounting profit.
It does not include fixed costs such as subscriptions, design tools or storage, and it does not calculate VAT or sales tax. Those belong in a separate model.
Break-even ad spend is the scaling limit
The contribution before ads is the maximum you can spend to acquire an order without losing money. If the actual cost per order is higher, scaling ads increases the loss.
Use a conservative refund reserve for the first month. A product with a 3% defect rate can erase the margin on a thin catalog.
Free shipping is a cost line
If you advertise free shipping, set the shipping charged to the buyer at zero and keep the real shipping cost in the model. The buyer sees one price, but the carrier still gets paid.
For cross-border orders, include duty and import tax if you sell delivered. A price that ignores them can look profitable and still lose money on every order.
Print-on-demand reference — all entries
Every entry links to its full reference page. The search box above filters this list.
Frequently asked questions
Does this calculator include VAT or sales tax?
No. It models the commercial margin before tax. Add tax registration and collection separately.
What refund rate should I use?
Start with a conservative reserve based on your product and provider, then replace it with actual data after the first sales.
Why is profit lower than the markup?
Marketplace fees, payment processing, refunds, shipping and ads all come out of the retail price before profit.
Can I use it for Etsy and Shopify?
Yes. Change the marketplace fee and payment percentage to match the channel and your payment provider.
Ask a compliance question
Free first answer by email. Tell us the destination, the product and the channel — we will point you to the rule and the official source. No obligation, no sales sequence.