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Break-Even Calculator

Estimate break-even units from fixed costs, selling price and variable cost per unit. See contribution per unit and break-even revenue.

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Break-even point Live result

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Calculation breakdown

How to read this result

Use the result to compare scenarios and verify the inputs, units and real-world conditions before making an important decision.

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Useful next calculationContribution Margin

How to use it

A clear result in a few inputs.

Enter the requested values.Use consistent units and the real values for your scenario.
Read the main result and breakdown.NumLuma recalculates immediately when an input changes.
Check the formula and assumptions.Use the supporting context before making a real-world decision.

What this calculator does

Break-even analysis separates costs into fixed costs and variable cost per unit. Each sale contributes the difference between selling price and variable cost toward fixed costs. The calculator divides fixed costs by that contribution to estimate how many units are needed before profit begins.

What to know before you use the result

Contribution per unit = price − variable cost.
The purchase/sales target is rounded up because a fraction of a unit normally cannot complete break-even.
The model assumes price, variable cost and fixed costs remain constant across the units analyzed.

Common mistakes to avoid

Putting fixed costs into variable cost per unit.
Using a price that is less than or equal to variable cost.
Treating break-even as a cash-flow forecast when timing of payments is different.

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Decision depth

Change one lever. See what moves.

These are reusable starting points, not recommendations. Open a scenario, then change the inputs to match your own case.

01 / SCENARIO

Base contribution

$5,000 fixed cost, $50 price and $30 variable cost.

Open scenario ↗02 / SCENARIO

Higher-price case

Raise price to $55 while keeping the same fixed and variable cost.

Open scenario ↗03 / SCENARIO

Target-profit case

Add a $2,000 target profit to the baseline economics.

Open scenario ↗

Formula reference

Break-Even Formula

Break-even units = fixed costs ÷ (price per unit − variable cost per unit)

Learn the break-even units formula using fixed costs, selling price and variable cost per unit.

Understand the formula →

Assumptions & scope

Know what the number includes.

Commercial business intent. Define the metric precisely and distinguish it from neighboring metrics to avoid thin or interchangeable pages.

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Decision answers

Questions connected to this calculator.

Use a worked question when you want context before changing the inputs yourself.

How many units do I need to sell to break even?↗

Quick answers

About the break-even calculation.

What is the break-even point?

It is the sales volume at which total contribution from sales equals fixed costs, producing approximately zero operating profit under the assumptions used.

Why does NumLuma round units up?

If the exact result is 250.4 units, 250 units would still be below break-even. For discrete products, the next whole unit is the practical threshold.

What is contribution per unit?

Selling price minus variable cost per unit. That amount is available to cover fixed costs and then profit.

Does this include taxes or financing?

Only if you deliberately include those amounts in the cost inputs. The basic model itself does not add them automatically.