Color is mixed by the gram or ounce, so the true product cost of a service is grams used times cost per gram. Backing cost-per-gram out of tube price keeps every formula honest.
The example
60 g used, $18 / 90 g tube.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | $18 / 90 g | $0.20/g |
| 3 | 60 g × $0.20 | → $12.00 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Cost per gram = tube price ÷ tube grams — the unit cost of the color.
- Multiply by grams used for that service’s product cost.
- Add developer and add-ins (also per-ounce or per-gram) for the full mix cost.
- Express as a percent of the service price to track product efficiency.
Weighing color turns guesswork into pennies. A scale on the color bar lets you log grams per service, and grams × cost-per-gram gives an exact product cost — no more “about a tube” estimates. Over a month, the difference between weighed and eyeballed mixing is real money, and the data shows which services or stylists run heavy on product.
Try it: interactive demo
Tube price, tube grams, grams used.
Variations
Cost per gram
Tube price ÷ grams:
With developer
Add the mix:
Product % of price
Efficiency:
Pitfalls & errors
Per-gram, not per-tube. Most services use part of a tube — cost the grams.
Include developer. Add-ins and developer are part of the mix cost.
Consistent units. Grams with grams, ounces with ounces.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate color cost per service in Excel?
How do I get cost per gram?
Should I include developer?
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