What does it cost to make liquid hand soap?
Cost to make, ex-works $1.0726 per 300ml pump bottle, at 12,000 units
Per 1,000 units$1072.63
Whole run$12871.60
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 $0.3782 35%Packaging $0.4600 43%Tolling $0.1800 17%Inbound freight $0.0330 3%Yield loss $0.0215 2%
The formulation
| Ingredient | Qty | Price | Overage | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 850 g/L | $0.02/lb | 2% | $0.0115 |
| Surfactant blend | 110 g/L | $2.20/lb | 3% | $0.1649 |
| Glycerin and humectant | 25 g/L | $2.80/lb | 3% | $0.0477 |
| Fragrance | 5 g/L | $30.00/lb | 5% | $0.1042 |
| Preservative and pH | 6 g/L | $12.00/lb | 5% | $0.0500 |
| Ingredients per unit | $0.3782 | |||
What actually moves this number
- The pumpA decent lotion pump is frequently the most expensive component in the unit, ahead of the bottle and far ahead of the formula.
- Refills change the mathsA refill pouch removes the pump and most of the bottle, which is why almost every brand in the category launches one.
- Fragrance againUnder 0.5% inclusion, still one of the largest formula lines.
What is not in here
- Excludes safety assessment and stability testing.
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 Energy drink $0.1759 / 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 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A cost you worked out once is already out of date.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.