Knowing the cost of a single print is the foundation of every print-shop quote. Add up the job's costs, divide by the number of prints, and you have a per-piece number to price from.
Include ink/toner, paper, and any click charges in the total cost.
The example
A run costs $45 in materials and produces 300 prints.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Label | Value |
| 2 | Total job cost | $45.00 |
| 3 | Prints produced | 300 |
| 4 | Cost per print | $0.15 |
The formula
Spread the cost across every print:
How it works
Building the number:
- Add up everything the job consumed: ink or toner, paper, and click charges (B2).
- Count the prints the job produced (B3).
B2/B3divides total cost across all prints for a per-piece cost.- $45 ÷ 300 = $0.15 per print — your floor before markup.
Multiply by your markup to set a sell price, e.g. =B2/B3*2.5 for a 2.5× markup.
Try it: interactive demo
Enter total cost and print count — see the cost per print.
Variations
Add a markup to set the price
Multiply the per-print cost by your target markup factor.
Include setup in the unit cost
Fold a one-time setup fee into the total before dividing.
Pitfalls & errors
Don't forget consumables that aren't obvious — drum/fuser wear, waste sheets, and spoilage all belong in the cost.
Spreading a fixed setup fee over more prints lowers the per-piece cost, which is why bigger runs price cheaper each.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What costs go into the total?
How do I turn this into a price?
Why is a bigger run cheaper per print?
Stop fighting formulas. Learn them in a day.
This recipe is one of hundreds of real-world formulas we teach. Our Excel Formulas & Functions class covers lookups, logic, text, and dynamic arrays hands-on — live in Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, Oklahoma City, Denver, or online.
See the Formulas & Functions Class