How this is calculated

Here are the steps, with the example on this page: a 1200 g batch of shea lotion in 4 oz pump bottles.

  • Grams of each ingredient = percent × batch weight. 70% water is 840 g, 10% almond oil is 120 g, 6% emulsifying wax is 72 g.
  • Cost of each ingredient = pack price ÷ pack size × amount used, after changing units. Emulsifying wax at $12.20 a pound (453.6 g), using 72 g: $12.20 ÷ 453.6 × 72 = $1.94. Almond oil is bought by the fluid ounce, so 120 g ÷ 0.92 g per ml = 130 ml, which is 4.41 fl oz. At $12.95 for 16 fl oz that is $3.57.
  • All the ingredients come to $11.49 for the batch, or $0.96 for every 100 g.
  • Containers filled = batch weight after the loss ÷ fill weight. 1200 g less 4% is 1152 g, and 1152 g ÷ 115 g is 10 full bottles, with 2 g left over.
  • Packaging = a bottle with pump from a $28.32 case of 24 ($1.18) and a label from a $15 pack of 100 ($0.15), so $1.33 a bottle, or $13.30 for 10.
  • Your time = 60 minutes at $20 an hour, $20.00 for the batch.
  • Cost per bottle = ($11.49 + $13.30 + $20.00) ÷ 10 = $4.48.
  • Suggested price = cost ÷ (1 - margin). At a 60% margin: $4.48 ÷ 0.4 = $11.20.

Why your cost per jar changes

Oils, butters and packaging change price often. A small change in a costly ingredient, like an essential oil, moves the cost of every jar that uses it. Buying a bigger pack lowers the cost per gram, and changing the batch size changes how much loss and time each jar carries. Try both in the calculator.

Stockria keeps each formula with your ingredients. When you make a batch, it takes the oils, butters, jars and labels off your shelf and adds the finished jars, with a lot number and a date. You always know what each jar cost and how many more you can make. See how it works for batch makers, or keep a paper trail with the free batch log template.

How to work out the cost of a cosmetics batch

  1. Turn percents into grams. Multiply each percent by the batch weight. 10% of a 1200 g batch is 120 g.
  2. Price each ingredient. Divide the pack price by the pack size, then multiply by the amount used. For liquids bought by volume, divide the grams by the weight of 1 ml first.
  3. Count the containers. Take off what stays in the pot, then divide by the fill weight of one container. Only full containers count.
  4. Add packaging and time. Add the jar, lid, pump and label for every container, and your time for the batch at your hourly rate.
  5. Set your price. Divide the batch cost by the containers, then divide by 1 minus your margin. For a 60% margin, divide by 0.4.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to make a bottle of lotion?

With the example prices on this page, the ingredients for one 115 g bottle of a simple shea lotion cost about $1.15, counting what stays in the pot. The 4 oz bottle with a pump and the label add $1.33, and one hour of your time at $20 for 10 bottles adds $2.00. That is about $4.48 a bottle. The bottle often costs more than the lotion inside it.

Why write a formula in percents?

A percent formula works at any batch size. 6% emulsifying wax is 72 g in a 1200 g batch and 30 g in a 500 g batch. Suppliers also give safe use rates for preservatives and scents in percents, so it is easy to check you are inside them.

How do I price an oil I buy by the fluid ounce?

A percent formula is by weight, so the calculator needs the weight of 1 ml. Most oils weigh about 0.92 g per ml, glycerin about 1.26 g, and water 1 g. Pick fl oz, ml or l as the pack unit and the field for it shows up. Your supplier's data sheet lists the exact number as specific gravity.

Why does my batch fill fewer jars than I expect?

Some product always stays on the pot, the mixer and the funnel. Enter that share as Lost in the pot, often 3% to 5%. The calculator counts only full containers and shows what is left over, and the whole batch cost is shared across the full ones.

Should I count my time in the cost?

Yes. Weighing, heating, mixing, cooling, filling, labelling and cleaning all take time. Count the minutes for one batch and pick a fair hourly rate. The calculator shares that time across every container in the batch.

Does this check if my formula is safe?

No. It only prices the formula. Follow your supplier's use rates for preservatives, emulsifiers and essential oils, and test each new formula before you sell it.

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