Product Sample Cost Calculator
The cheapest insurance in sourcing.
Total sampling cost
$1,920
15% of the eventual order
Sampling costs 15% of the order value and prevents ordering thousands of the wrong thing. It is the cheapest insurance in sourcing, and the line most often cut by people who have not yet received a container of unsellable goods.
How the Product Sample Cost Calculator works
Sampling costs a small share of the eventual order and prevents ordering thousands of the wrong thing. It is the cheapest insurance available in sourcing and the line most often cut by people who have not yet received a container of unsellable goods.
Also known as: sampling cost calculator · cost of getting samples · prototype sample cost
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 many sample rounds should I expect?
Two to four for a customised product. The first rarely matches the brief exactly, and each round costs time as well as money.
Should I sample from several suppliers?
Yes, comparing samples is the only reliable way to judge quality before committing. Sampling one supplier tells you what they can make, not whether it is good.
Why is sample shipping so expensive?
Because express courier on a single item carries a minimum charge regardless of weight. It frequently exceeds the sample itself, and it is unavoidable.
Should samples be free?
Suppliers often waive the sample cost against a subsequent order. Insisting on free samples before any commitment mostly filters out the better suppliers.