Cost per use calculator
Cost per use shows what an item really costs each time you use it. Enter the price and how many times you expect to use it. Add running costs or a resale value for a fuller picture, and set a target to see how many uses you need.
Runs in your browser: nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
How to use it
- Enter the price and the number of times you expect to use the item.
- Optionally add a running cost per use and what you could sell it for later.
- Set the cost per use you would be happy with to see how many uses it takes.
How it works
- Cost per use = (price − resale value) ÷ uses + running cost.
- Total cost = price − resale value + running cost × uses.
- Uses needed = (price − resale value) ÷ (target − running cost), rounded up.
Worked example
A 200 item used 50 times costs 4.00 per use. At a target of 2.00 per use you need 100 uses. A 1,000 item that resells for 400, used 100 times with 0.50 running cost, costs (600 ÷ 100) + 0.50 = 6.50 per use.
Tips
- Compare similar items by cost per use rather than by price alone.
- Count only the uses you can realistically expect.
- An item you rarely use gets expensive per use, however cheap it was.
Frequently asked questions
How is cost per use calculated?
It is (price − resale value) ÷ number of uses + running cost per use. With no resale value and no running cost, it is just price ÷ uses.
What counts as running cost?
Anything you pay each time you use the item, such as cleaning, fuel, batteries or a subscription share. Costs that happen once belong in the price.
Why can the uses needed be blank?
Running costs are paid on every use, so the cost per use can never go below them. If your target is not above the running cost, no number of uses reaches it.
Is a low cost per use always good?
Not necessarily. It helps you compare, but it only counts uses you really expect. Be honest about how often you will use the item.