Packaging cost per order

What goes into a packaging cost?

Start with the materials consumed by a typical order: carton or mailer, cushioning, tape, label and any insert. Then account for the time spent preparing and sealing it. Enter costs in one currency, using the same approach to tax and delivery charges for every component.

Worked example: 100 orders

Suppose one order uses a 0.65 box, 0.20 of cushioning, 0.08 of tape and a 0.07 label. Materials total 1.00. Three minutes of packing at 15.00 per hour adds 0.75. The combined estimate is 1.75 per order, or 175.00 for 100 identical orders. These are demonstration values, not market prices.

Turn a bulk purchase into a per-order figure

Divide a bundle’s total cost by the usable quantity. For tape, measure the amount used for one parcel and compare it with the usable roll length. If 60 metres of tape costs 3.00 and one order consumes 1.2 metres, the tape cost is 0.06. Keep a separate allowance for damaged stock or wasted ends rather than assuming every purchase is fully usable.

Keep other costs separate

This calculator excludes postage, product cost, marketplace fees, payment fees, returns, storage and general overhead. It does not calculate profit or suggest a selling price. Use the result as one line in your own order-cost record. Different order types deserve separate calculations rather than one broad average.

Common questions

Read the per-order costing guide for a repeatable measurement routine.