How to Calculate Gross Profit Margin: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (2024)

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Article Summary

Co-authored byMichael R. Lewis

Last Updated: November 18, 2023Approved

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Gross profit is a way to compare the cost of the goods your company sells and the income derived from those goods. All you need for the gross profit formula is your total revenue, and the cost of goods sold (COGS). You can use your gross profit margin to quickly and meaningfully compare your company to your competitors, the industry as a whole, or even your own past performance. Our how-to guide breaks it down for you, including examples.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Calculating Gross Profit Margin

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  1. 1

    Look up Net Sales and Cost of Goods Sold. The company's income statement lists both values.

  2. 2

    Gross Profit Margin = (Net Sales - Cost of Goods Sold) ÷ Net Sales.

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  3. 3

    Example. A company makes $4,000 selling goods that cost $3,000 to produce. Its gross profit margin is How to Calculate Gross Profit Margin: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (7), or 25%.

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Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Understanding the Terms

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How to Calculate Profit Margin (Formula + Examples)

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  1. 1

    Understand Gross Profit Margin. The Gross Profit Margin (GPM) is the percentage of revenue a company has left over after paying direct costs of producing goods.[1] All other expenditures (including shareholder dividends) must come out of this percentage. This makes the GPM a good indicator of profitability.

  2. 2

    Define Net Sales. A company's net sales equal its total sales minus returns, allowances for damaged merchandise, and discounts.[2] This is a more accurate measure of incoming money than total sales alone.

  3. 3

    Measure Costs of Goods Sold. Abbreviated COGS, this figure includes the cost of materials, labor, and other expenses directly related to the production of goods or services.[3] It does not include costs of distribution, labor that does not go into goods production, or other indirect costs.

  4. 4

    Avoid confusing Gross Profit with GPM. The Gross Profit equals the Net Sales minus the Cost of Goods Sold. This is expressed in dollars or other units of currency. The formula above converts Gross Profit to GPM, a percentage, for easy comparison with other companies.

  5. 5

    Understand why these figures are important. Investors look at Gross Profit Margin to see how efficiently a company can use its resources. If one company has a GPM of 10% and a second company has a GPM of 20%, the second company is making twice as much money per dollar spent on goods. Assuming other costs are roughly equal between the two companies, the second company is probably the better investment opportunity.

    • It's best to compare companies in the same sector. Some goods and services have a lower average profit margin than others.

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Expert Q&A

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  • Question

    How do I calculate the profit, expressed as a percentage, that the vendor makes when selling a 180 airtime voucher?

    Michael R. Lewis
    Business Advisor

    Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

    Michael R. Lewis

    Business Advisor

    Expert Answer

    Subtract the cost of the voucher from the price received from its sale. the difference is gross profit. To calculate the Gross Profit Margin percentage, divide the price received for the sale by the gross profit and convert the decimals into a percentage. For example, 0.01 equals 1%, 0.1 equals 10 percent, and 1.0 equals 100 percent.

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  • Question

    How do I calculate the gross as a percentage if I have the GP in dollars and the net sales in dollars?

    Michael R. Lewis
    Business Advisor

    Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

    Michael R. Lewis

    Business Advisor

    Expert Answer

    Net Sales is Gross Sales less returns, discounts, and allowances for damaged or missing goods. Calculate Gross Sales by adding back those amounts if known to Net Sales, then divide your Gross Profit by Gross Sales. This will provide the answers in decimals that can be converted into a percentage.

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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission.Support wikiHow

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      About This Article

      How to Calculate Gross Profit Margin: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (32)

      Co-authored by:

      Michael R. Lewis

      Business Advisor

      This article was co-authored by Michael R. Lewis. Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin. This article has been viewed 1,433,079 times.

      9 votes - 56%

      Co-authors: 19

      Updated: November 18, 2023

      Views:1,433,079

      Categories: Featured Articles | Accounting

      Article SummaryX

      To calculate gross profit margin, start by subtracting the cost of goods sold from the net sales. Then, divide the difference by the net sales to find the gross profit margin. If you're not sure what the net sales and cost of goods sold are, you can look them up on the company's income statement. For more tips from our Financial co-author, like how to interpret gross profit margin, scroll down!

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      Español:calcular el margen bruto de ganancias

      Deutsch:Die Bruttogewinnspanne errechnen

      中文:计算毛利率

      Русский:вычислить коэффициент валовой прибыли

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      Bahasa Indonesia:Menghitung Margin Laba Kotor

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      Reader Success Stories

      • How to Calculate Gross Profit Margin: 8 Steps (with Pictures) (33)

        Bashir Qabaha

        Oct 24, 2016

        "I have a certificate in accounting field, this article is really helped me by understanding how GPM is important,..." more

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