What does it cost to make an energy drink?
Cost to make, ex-works $0.1759 per 250ml slim can, at 24,000 units
Per 1,000 units$175.92
Whole run$4221.96
This is a realistic mid-market estimate, not a quote. The same product at 5,000 units and at 50,000 units are different businesses — run size moves tolling more than any other line. Use it to sanity-check a quote, not to replace one.
Where the money goes
Ingredients $0.0563 32%Packaging $0.0290 16%Tolling $0.0810 46%Inbound freight $0.0043 2%Yield loss $0.0053 3%
The formulation
| Ingredient | Qty | Price | Overage | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cane sugar | 42 g/L | $0.26/lb | 2% | $0.0062 |
| Caffeine | 1.28 g/L | $12.40/lb | 3% | $0.0090 |
| Taurine | 4 g/L | $8.60/lb | 3% | $0.0195 |
| B-vitamin blend | 0.35 g/L | $46.00/lb | 5% | $0.0093 |
| Acid and flavour system | 5.5 g/L | $3.90/lb | 4% | $0.0123 |
| Ingredients per unit | $0.0563 | |||
What actually moves this number
- The can, againAs with any canned drink, the empty can and lid usually cost more than the liquid. Actives feel expensive per kilo and are used in grams.
- Caffeine is cheap; positioning is notAt 160mg a can the caffeine costs well under a cent. What costs money is holding a clinical dose on everything else.
- Regulatory labellingHigh-caffeine warnings are mandatory in most markets and constrain artwork — a design cost rather than a per-unit one.
What is not in here
- Excludes outbound freight and 3PL.
- Sugar-free versions swap sugar for sweetener and land slightly cheaper per unit, not more expensive.
Change the assumptions. Every figure above is an input, not a fact. Put your own supplier prices, your own pack size and your own run volume into the calculator and see what your product actually costs.
Open the calculatorOther products
Canned soft drink $0.1614 / unit Kombucha $0.5139 / unit Hot sauce $0.8867 / unit Skincare serum $2.8278 / unit Cold brew coffee $0.4184 / unit RTD cocktail $0.4067 / unit Flavoured sparkling water $0.1376 / unit Granola $2.3048 / unit Protein powder $11.4803 / unit Gummy supplements $2.3137 / unit Face cream $3.3752 / unit Shampoo $1.5113 / unit Candle $5.0816 / unit Laundry detergent $3.1031 / unit Pet treats $0.9522 / unit Ready meal $2.1280 / unit Chocolate bar $1.4098 / unit Liquid hand soap $1.0726 / unit Lip balm $0.5052 / unit
A cost you worked out once is already out of date.
Supplier prices move, co-packers raise rates, and runs yield worse than planned. NextBatch derives cost per unit instead of storing it, so it moves on its own.
No card. Set up your first product in about ten minutes.