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Optimal price from demand elasticity calculator

Enter the marginal cost per unit and the price elasticity of demand (a negative number). The calculator works out the profit-maximizing price at that elasticity.

A negative number, greater than 1 in absolute value — if you haven't computed it yet, use the separate demand elasticity calculator

Result

Optimal price

Markup over cost, %

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This calculation is for informational purposes only and does not replace advice from a qualified professional. Formulas and rates may not fit your exact situation — double-check the figures before making decisions.

How it is calculated

Optimal price = marginal cost × (elasticity ÷ (elasticity + 1)). This is the classic pricing rule (the Lerner index) for a seller with some market power: the less elastic demand is (the closer |elasticity| is to 1), the higher the optimal markup over cost, and vice versa.

The formula only works when the absolute value of elasticity is above 1 (elastic demand). At elasticity between −1 and 0 (inelastic demand), the formula produces a negative or meaningless price — that's not a calculation error but an economic fact: in that range there's no finite profit-maximizing price, because raising the price keeps paying off indefinitely — revenue grows faster than sales volume falls.

The calculation assumes elasticity stays constant over a wide price range — in practice that's a simplification: real elasticity usually changes with the price level itself, so treat the result as a benchmark rather than an exact optimal price.

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