Ad Cost per Order Calculator
Calculate the maximum ad spend you can afford per order while still hitting your target net margin—before you scale campaigns.
Inputs
Enter your price, costs, fees, and target margin.
How it works
This calculator estimates the maximum ad spend you can afford per order while still achieving your target net margin. It accounts for fixed costs (COGS + shipping) and percent-based fees (platform + payment). The remaining amount after those costs is the budget you can allocate to ads.
Formula
Example
If price is $50, target margin is 20%, COGS is $15, shipping is $5, platform fee is 15%, and payment fee is 2.9%: fee rate = 17.9%, fixed costs = $20, target profit = $10. Max ad cost = 50 − 20 − (0.179×50) − 10 = $11.05.
FAQ
Does this include taxes?
No. Taxes vary by location and business setup, so they’re excluded for simplicity.
What does “target net margin” mean?
It’s the profit percentage after all costs including fees, shipping, and ads.
Why is my max ad cost very low?
High fees, high COGS/shipping, or a high target margin will reduce the remaining budget for ads.
Can max ad cost be negative?
If the math yields a negative number, it means you can’t hit the target margin with these inputs.
Is this calculator free?
Yes. No login, no account, and no payment required.
Which platforms does this work for?
Any platform with percent-based fees: Amazon, Shopify, Etsy, Walmart Marketplace, and more.