

How to Calculate Profit and Profit Percentage Step by Step
Profit Calculator
What is Profit Calculator?
A Profit Calculator is a simple online tool designed to help you determine the profit or loss earned on selling an item, simply by entering the cost price (CP) and selling price (SP). It instantly tells you not only how much profit (or loss) was made but also the corresponding profit percentage, making it a powerful utility for students, shopkeepers, exam aspirants, and business professionals who regularly deal with sales transactions or maths problems related to profit and loss.
Formula or Logic Behind Profit Calculator
The Profit Calculator works on very basic arithmetic formulas:
- Profit (or Gain) = Selling Price (SP) − Cost Price (CP)
- Profit Percentage = (Profit / Cost Price) × 100
- If your result is negative, it means you have incurred a Loss:
- Loss = Cost Price (CP) − Selling Price (SP)
- Loss Percentage = (Loss / Cost Price) × 100
With these formulas, the calculator helps you find out if you're making a profit or loss, and by what margin. This is essential for business maths, competitive exams, and everyday trading scenarios.
Examples of Profit, Loss & Percentage
Cost Price (CP) | Selling Price (SP) | Profit/Loss | Profit/Loss % |
---|---|---|---|
100 | 120 | Profit = 20 | 20% |
450 | 540 | Profit = 90 | 20% |
200 | 160 | Loss = 40 | 20% |
500 | 500 | No Profit or Loss | 0% |
350 | 385 | Profit = 35 | 10% |
Steps to Use the Profit Calculator
- Enter the Cost Price (CP) and Selling Price (SP) in the input fields above.
- Click on the 'Calculate Profit' button.
- View instant results for Profit or Loss and the percentage, along with stepwise calculation.
Why Use Vedantu’s Profit Calculator?
Vedantu’s Profit Calculator is user-friendly, fast, and mobile-responsive. It’s trusted by lakhs of students, parents, shopkeepers, and business owners every year for accurate profit/loss calculations in maths exams, commerce homework, and real trading situations. You don’t need to remember complicated formulas; just enter your values for instant, step-by-step answers. Plus, all calculations are based on NCERT, CBSE, and competitive exam standards.
Real-life Applications of Profit Calculator
The Profit Calculator is widely used to:
- Quickly check profit, loss, or margin for items bought and sold in a shop or market
- Solve school, college, or entrance exam problems related to profit and loss
- Evaluate business deals and product pricing for maximum returns
- Help buyers and sellers compare bargain deals, discounts, or resale value
- Assist students and parents with maths assignments and practical applications of arithmetic
For example, if you are preparing for commerce exams or working as a small business owner, this calculator helps you decide selling prices to achieve a target profit percentage. Even in daily life, you can use it to see if you're getting a good deal while selling old books, electronics, or vehicles.
For further exploration, you can try Vedantu’s markup, prime numbers, and factors calculators for more maths and business topics. You might also be interested in understanding profit & loss percentage or deepen your basics at algebra.
FAQs on Free Online Profit Calculator for Students & Business
1. What is the formula for calculating profit?
2. How do I calculate profit percentage?
3. What is the difference between profit and profit margin?
4. How can I use a profit calculator to find the selling price if I know the cost price and desired profit?
5. What is the difference between gross profit and net profit?
6. How do I calculate profit when dealing with multiple items?
7. What are some real-world examples of profit calculation?
- Retail businesses determine the markup on products to achieve a target profit margin.
- Manufacturing companies calculate profit per unit produced to assess the efficiency of their operations.
- Investors use profit calculations to evaluate the return on their investments.
8. What is the significance of understanding profit calculation in business?
- Set appropriate pricing strategies
- Control costs and expenses
- Measure the profitability of products/services
- Make informed business decisions
9. Can I use this profit calculator for tax purposes?
10. How do I calculate profit if I have discounts or returns?
11. What if my selling price is lower than my cost price?

















