# Carton Production Cost Calculator

> Build up the cost of a carton from board weight and price, printing, conversion and other costs, add overhead and markup, and get the unit price.

Category: Manufacturing & packaging · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/carton-production-cost-calculator

Carton cost is mostly board: weight times price per kilogram. Add printing, conversion and other direct costs, load overhead, then add your markup to reach a selling price.

Also called: Corrugated box costing calculator, Box price calculator.

## Inputs
- Board weight per carton (unit g; default 500)
- Board price per kg (default 0.80)
- Printing cost per carton (default 0.10; optional)
- Conversion cost per carton (default 0.15; optional)
- Other direct cost per carton (default 0.05; optional)
- Overhead on direct cost (unit %; default 20; optional)
- Markup on total cost (unit %; default 25; optional)
- Order quantity (default 5000)
- Currency

## Results
- Selling price per carton
- Total cost per carton
- Board cost per carton
- Direct cost per carton
- Overhead per carton
- Order value

## Formula

```
Board = Weight (kg) × Price/kg;  Direct = Board + Printing + Conversion + Other;  Cost = Direct × (1 + Overhead%);  Price = Cost × (1 + Markup%)
```

Where:
- Overhead%: factory overhead as a share of direct cost
- Markup%: profit added on top of total cost

## Worked example
1. Board = 0.5 kg × 0.80 = 0.40.
2. Direct = 0.40 + 0.10 + 0.15 + 0.05 = 0.70.
3. Overhead = 20% × 0.70 = 0.14, so cost = 0.84.
4. Price = 0.84 × 1.25 = 1.05; 5000 cartons = 5250.

**Result:** Each carton costs 0.84 to make and sells for 1.05 with a 25% markup, so the order is worth 5250.

## What the result means

Markup is on cost, so a 25% markup is a 20% margin on the price. To price from a target margin instead, use the Carton Quote Margin Calculator.

## Assumptions and limits
- All costs are per finished carton and already allow for normal waste.
- Overhead is charged as a percentage of direct cost.
- One-off costs such as printing plates and cutting dies are not included; spread them over the order in the quote calculator.
- Taxes and freight out are excluded.

## Questions

### Where do I get board weight?

From the Carton Board Weight Calculator: blank area times combined GSM.

### Is markup the same as margin?

No. Markup is profit ÷ cost; margin is profit ÷ price. 25% markup equals 20% margin.

## Related calculators
- [Carton Board Weight Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/carton-board-weight-calculator)
- [Carton Quote Margin Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/carton-quote-margin-calculator)
- [Markup Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/markup-calculator)
- [Profit Margin Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/profit-margin-calculator)

Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/carton-production-cost-calculator