Import Profit Margin Calculator for E-Commerce Sellers

Know Your Real Profit Before You Order

The difference between a profitable import and an expensive mistake is knowing your numbers. Not just the supplier price — your real, all-in profit per unit after every cost is accounted for.

Use the calculator below to model your product's true profitability.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your costs per unit in each field. The calculator instantly shows your:

• Landed cost — total cost to get the product to your warehouse (product + shipping + duty + other costs)
• Total cost — landed cost plus selling platform fees and fulfilment
• Profit per unit — what you actually keep
• Profit margin (%) — profit as a percentage of selling price
• ROI (%) — return on your landed cost investment

What the Numbers Mean

Landed Cost Per Unit

This is the true cost of getting one unit from your supplier to your warehouse. It includes:

• Product cost — what you pay the supplier (FOB/CIF price)
• Shipping cost — your share of freight charges
• Import duty — based on your product's HS code and duty rate
• Other costs — insurance, customs clearance, handling fees, inspection costs

If your landed cost is more than 30–35% of your selling price, margins will be tight once you add platform fees and advertising.

Profit Margin

Your margin tells you how much of each sale is profit:

ROI (Return on Investment)

ROI measures how efficiently your money works. An ROI of 100% means you double your investment. For imported products sold on marketplaces, aim for at least 50% ROI to account for the time and risk involved.

Common Mistakes When Calculating Profit

1. Forgetting About Duty

Many new importers calculate profit as selling price minus product cost minus Amazon fees. They forget that duty adds 2–15% to their product cost. Use the HS code lookup to find your rate.

2. Underestimating Platform Fees

Amazon's total take (referral + fulfilment + storage) can reach 35–45% of the selling price. Use the FBA calculator for exact figures.

3. Ignoring Returns

Returns cost you the refund, return shipping, and often a damaged product you can't resell. Budget 3–8% of revenue for returns depending on your category.

4. Not Including Advertising

Most products on Amazon need PPC advertising to gain visibility. Budget 10–20% of revenue for advertising, especially in the first 3–6 months.

5. Using Invoice Price as Product Cost

The supplier's invoice price is not your product cost. Your cost is the landed cost — invoice price plus freight, duty, and all handling charges.

Beyond This Calculator

This calculator gives you a quick profitability estimate. For a comprehensive analysis that includes:

• Multiple products per shipment
• Cost allocation across different products by weight, volume, or value
• Historical exchange rate tracking
• Amazon fee breakdowns by marketplace
• Trend analysis across shipments

Try the full import profitability calculator or sign up for LandedCost.io to track everything automatically across every shipment.

Pricing Strategy Tips

If your calculator results show margins below 20%, consider:

1. Increasing your selling price — test higher prices; the market may bear more than you think
2. Reducing product cost — negotiate with your supplier or source alternatives
3. Optimising shipping — consolidate orders, use sea freight, reduce packaging
4. Changing platforms — sell on your own website to avoid referral fees
5. Bundling products — sell sets to increase average order value and spread fixed costs

The most profitable importers run these numbers before placing an order, not after the goods arrive. Start with the calculator above, then use LandedCost.io's full platform for ongoing tracking and analysis.