The bundle pricing math (built for fast decisions)

This calculator models bundles in three layers: (1) bundle price, (2) bundle margin, and (3) monthly impact based on how many customers choose the bundle. It’s intentionally simple, because bundle decisions are usually made in “what-if” loops: What happens if we discount 15% instead of 25%? What if 30% of buyers choose it?

Start with the sum of item prices. If your bundle contains Item A and Item B (and optionally Item C), the “anchor price” is:

• Sum of prices: SumPrice = PriceA + PriceB (+ PriceC)

There are two common ways to set a bundle price:

• Discount method: choose a discount percent off the sum.
• Target price method: pick a bundle price you want (then see implied discount).

With the discount method:

• BundlePrice (raw): SumPrice × (1 − Discount%)

With the target method:

• BundlePrice: the target you type in
• Implied Discount%: 1 − (BundlePrice ÷ SumPrice)

If you pick a “price ending” (like .99), we apply a small rounding step at the end. This can be useful for consumer pricing (“$59.99 feels better than $60.34”), but it can also reduce margin by a few cents — the calculator shows that.

Bundles are won or lost on cost. We compute the total cost of goods sold (COGS) for the bundle:

• SumCost: CostA + CostB (+ CostC) + ExtraBundleCost
• Profit per bundle: BundlePrice − SumCost
• Gross margin %: (Profit ÷ BundlePrice) × 100

The “extra bundle cost” field is optional. Use it when bundling has real incremental cost: special packaging, inserts, extra pick/pack time, or a bundled freebie that still costs you something.

To estimate impact, we compare two scenarios:

• Before: customers buy your “typical order today” (e.g., only Item A).
• After: a percentage of customers (“take rate”) buy the bundle instead.

We also include an optional “order lift from bundle.” Sometimes bundles increase conversion because customers perceive more value. If you set the lift slider to 10%, the calculator assumes total orders rise by 10% (a simplifying assumption, but useful for planning).

• TotalOrdersAfter: Orders × (1 + Lift%)
• BundlesSold: TotalOrdersAfter × TakeRate%
• NonBundleOrders: TotalOrdersAfter − BundlesSold

The “before” revenue and profit are based on your selected baseline order. The “after” totals are a mix of bundle orders and baseline orders. The result is a realistic answer to the question you actually care about: “If X% of customers choose the bundle, what happens to my revenue and profit?”

Bundles are often used for growth, but margin keeps you alive. That’s why the calculator highlights bundle gross margin % and monthly profit impact. A high take-rate with thin margins can look great on revenue while quietly hurting cash flow. Conversely, a modest bundle discount can increase profit if it shifts customers from “only Item A” to “bundle.”

3 fast bundle scenarios

Item A is $49 (cost $18). Item B is $29 (cost $10). You offer 20% off. SumPrice = $78. Bundle price = $62.40 (or $61.99 if you round to .99). SumCost = $28. Profit per bundle is roughly $34, and gross margin is about mid‑50%s. If 20% of 500 monthly orders take the bundle, that’s 100 bundle orders — and your total profit depends on what the “typical order” was before.

You add Item C: price $19, cost $6. Now SumPrice = $97 and SumCost = $34. Even with a similar discount, you might maintain a healthy margin because Item C is high perceived value relative to cost. This is a classic move: add perceived value, not expensive cost.

Suppose your competitors sell a similar bundle for $59. You set target bundle price to $59.00. The calculator shows the implied discount vs your SumPrice and your resulting margin. If the margin is too low, your options are: (1) reduce the discount (raise price), (2) reduce cost, (3) remove a costly item, or (4) replace it with a lower-cost bonus.

Tip: Play “price tennis.” Try 10%, 15%, 20% discount while watching margin and monthly profit. You’ll find a sweet spot.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What’s a good bundle discount?

  It depends on your category and margins. Many consumer bundles land in the 10–30% range, but there’s no universal rule. The best discount is the smallest one that creates a meaningful increase in take rate or conversion. Use this calculator to test discounts until the profit impact makes sense.

• Should I discount all items equally?

  You don’t have to. This calculator assumes a single discount applied to the sum (for simplicity), but in practice you can “hide” the discount on high-margin items or include a low-cost bonus item. If you want to simulate that, adjust item prices/costs to reflect your intended structure.

• What if bundle customers would have bought multiple items anyway?

  That’s why the calculator includes “Typical order today.” If your baseline is already A+B, then a bundle discount might reduce profit unless it drives additional orders or reduces returns / support costs. Pick the baseline that matches your reality.

• Does this include payment processing fees, ads, or shipping?

  Not fully. This tool focuses on price, COGS, and gross margin. You can approximate extra per-order costs using “Extra bundle cost,” but if your fees vary by channel (Amazon vs Shopify vs retail), run separate scenarios.

• How do I avoid “discount addiction”?

  Bundles are safer than site-wide discounts because they shift customers toward higher-value purchases rather than lowering everything. Keep discounts time-bound, position bundles as “kits” or “sets,” and protect your premium SKUs from constant discounting.

• What’s the most common bundle mistake?

  Setting a discount that feels great but ignores costs. A bundle can look like a hit (higher revenue, more units) while lowering profit and cash flow. Always check margin and monthly profit impact before scaling a promotion.

The “profit-safe discount” rule of thumb

If your bundle contains one high-margin item and one low-margin item, the discount should mostly be “paid for” by the high-margin item. A quick way to sanity-check: keep your bundle gross margin % near your business’s typical gross margin % floor. If the bundle margin is dramatically lower, you’re not offering a deal — you’re donating profit.

• Start with a discount you think customers will love (say 25%).
• Check bundle margin % and monthly profit impact.
• Then reduce discount by 5 points and see if profit jumps a lot while savings barely changes.

Often, the difference between a risky bundle and a smart bundle is just a few percentage points.

Use responsibly

Real-world bundles interact with returns, support load, shipping tiers, payment fees, marketplace rules, and brand positioning. Use this calculator to narrow options quickly, then validate with actual data (A/B tests, cohort reports, or a limited-time promotion).

• Launch a bundle as a “kit” or “set” with a clear savings message.
• Track take rate, revenue per visitor, and gross profit per visitor.
• Adjust discount in small steps (2–5 points) rather than huge swings.