Dollar Off Calculator

A fixed amount shifts the mix downward.

A fixed amount shifts the mix downward. A fixed amount off is a bigger percentage on cheaper items, so it shifts the mix toward low-value baskets.

Written and maintained by Mohit PatelLast checked August 4, 2026How we build these

Currency

Price

Amount off

Contribution margin

Discounted price

$46.00

20.7% equivalent

Amount off$12.00

Equivalent percentage20.7%

Contribution after discount$13.52

Units needed to break even1.89×

A fixed amount off is a bigger percentage on cheaper items, so it shifts the mix toward low-value baskets. A percentage discount does the opposite. Which you use should follow from which behaviour you want.

How the Dollar Off Calculator works

A fixed amount off is a bigger percentage on cheaper items, so it shifts the mix toward low-value baskets. A percentage discount does the opposite. Which you choose should follow from which behaviour you want rather than from which is easier to write.

Also known as: fixed amount discount · money off calculator · amount off price calculator

Absolute amounts against percentages

A fixed amount off is simpler to understand and behaves differently across a price range. £10 off is 50% on a £20 item and 5% on a £200 one, so a single fixed discount applied catalogue-wide produces wildly different margin effects.

That variability is sometimes the point. A fixed voucher pushes customers towards higher-value items, because the discount is proportionally less painful for you and the customer still sees the same headline saving.

It is also the risk. A £10 voucher on a catalogue with items priced from £12 upward can be redeemed against the cheapest item at a near-total loss, and voucher campaigns without a minimum spend routinely discover this.

Setting the minimum spend

The minimum spend is what makes a fixed-amount discount economic, and it should be calculated rather than chosen for roundness.

The threshold is the order value at which the contribution after the discount is still acceptable. On a 40% contribution margin, a £10 discount consumes the entire contribution of a £25 order and a quarter of the contribution of a £100 one. Setting the minimum at £50 or above is arithmetic rather than caution.

The secondary effect is basket building, and it is frequently larger than the discount cost. A minimum spend set just above the average order value pushes a meaningful share of customers to add an item, and the contribution on that item often exceeds the discount given.

Which framing feels more generous

The rule of 100 is the usual guidance: below a price of 100 units of currency, express the discount as a percentage; above it, as an absolute amount. It reflects which number looks bigger.

On a £40 item, 25% off sounds better than £10 off, though they are identical. On a £400 item, £100 off sounds better than 25% off, again identically.

It is a heuristic rather than a law and it is worth testing in your own catalogue, because product category and customer sophistication both affect it. Business buyers tend to calculate; consumers tend not to.

The voucher liability

Issued vouchers that have not been redeemed are a liability, and in a large campaign the outstanding amount can be substantial.

Redemption rates vary enormously with the offer and the audience. Broadly distributed vouchers with no personalisation frequently redeem in low single digits; targeted vouchers to engaged customers can exceed 30%. Budgeting on the low figure and being surprised by the high one is the expensive direction.

Expiry dates limit the liability and are regulated in some jurisdictions, particularly where the voucher was paid for rather than given. Promotional vouchers given away generally have more latitude than gift cards purchased with money, and the distinction matters legally and is often blurred in practice.

Stacking, and the leak that follows

Fixed-amount vouchers are the most commonly abused promotion type, because their value is unambiguous and their terms are frequently loose.

The usual leaks: multiple vouchers on one order, vouchers applied on top of an existing sale price, vouchers shared publicly on deal sites and used far beyond the intended audience, and repeat use through multiple accounts.

Each is preventable with terms enforced in the checkout rather than stated in the small print. One voucher per order, not valid with other offers, single use per customer, and expiry. Enforcement at the code level costs a configuration and prevents the campaign that goes viral on a deal forum and takes the month's profit with it.

Where to go next

The Dollar Off question rarely arrives on its own. These are the ones that usually come with it:

Percentage Off Calculator — And the volume it needs to break even.
Coupon Value Calculator — The minimum spend does the work.
Spend and Save Calculator — Each tier has to earn its place.
Etsy Fee Calculator — Every Etsy fee on one sale, itemised.

Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price, check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is a fixed amount better than a percentage?

It depends on what you want. Fixed amounts favour low-value baskets and are simple to communicate; percentages favour high-value baskets and cost more on them.

What is the equivalent percentage?

The amount divided by the price. £12 off a £58 item is 20.7%, and off a £30 item it is 40%, the same offer, twice the cost.

Should I set a minimum spend?

Almost always with a fixed amount, otherwise the discount lands hardest on your cheapest products. A minimum converts the discount into a basket-size lever.

Which converts better?

Fixed amounts read as more concrete and often convert better below about £50; percentages read as larger above it. The threshold varies by category and is worth testing.