SPECIALTY & OTHER TOOLS

Compare two items by price per unit to find the better deal. Enter each price and size in the same units.

Item A price ($)

Item A size (qty)

Item B price ($)

Item B size (qty)

Best Unit Price

— /unit

Lower is better.

Usage Tip

Use the shelf unit-price tag when it is there; when it is not, this does it for you. Buying bigger only saves money if you use it all before it goes bad.

THE MATH

Unit price = price ÷ size
Lower unit price = better value

Unit price puts items on the same footing regardless of package size — price per ounce, sheet, or count. The lower unit price is the better value if the items are otherwise equal.
Stores often list unit price on the shelf tag in small print.

Bigger packages are usually but not always cheaper per unit — check, because promotions sometimes make the small size the better buy.
Unit price ignores quality, freshness, and whether you will actually use the larger quantity before it expires.
Make sure both sizes use the same unit (ounces versus count) before comparing.

Practical Notes

Unit price tells you what you pay per unit of weight, volume, or quantity, and it is the fairest way to compare different package sizes. Divide the price by the size to find the cost per unit, then compare the two results. The lower unit price is the better value.

Make sure both sizes are in the same units, since comparing ounces with grams or a count with a weight gives a misleading answer. The cheaper unit price is not always the better choice, because a larger package only saves money if you will use it all before it spoils or expires. Also consider quality, brand, and storage space when deciding.

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