Dropshipping Break-Even Calculator
Orders needed, and the ceiling on acquisition cost.
Orders to break even
244 orders
$6,020 of fixed cost and ad spend to cover
Contribution per order is $24.73, which is also the absolute ceiling on cost per acquisition. Spend more than that to get an order and the order loses money — no volume fixes it.
How the Dropshipping Break-Even Calculator works
Contribution per order is also the absolute ceiling on what you can pay to get one. Spend more than that on acquisition and the order loses money — and no amount of volume fixes it, because every additional order loses the same amount again.
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
How do I calculate break-even for a dropshipping store?
Fixed costs plus ad spend, divided by contribution per order — where contribution is price less supplier cost, shipping and processing. Advertising sits above the line because it scales with orders.
What is the maximum I can pay per order?
Your contribution per order, exactly. At that cost per acquisition you break even on the order itself and still have fixed costs to cover, so your real ceiling is lower.
Do fixed costs matter much?
Less than in most businesses — a store subscription and a few apps is a small number. The dominant cost is variable, which is why dropshipping break-even is reached quickly and profitability is reached slowly.
Why does volume not fix a bad unit economic?
Because there is no operating leverage. Every order needs its own ad spend, so a loss per order multiplies with volume rather than being absorbed by it.