How the Promotion Profit Calculator works
A promotion trades profit per unit for volume. Whether it pays depends on three things: how much profit each promo unit still earns, how much extra volume it brings, and any fixed deal fee.
This calculator compares total profit over the promo window against what the same days would have earned at the normal price, and tells you the minimum lift that makes the promotion worthwhile.
Formula
- Baseline units = Units per day × Days
- Promo units = Baseline units × (1 + Lift %)
- Baseline profit = Baseline units × Profit at normal price
- Promo profit = Promo units × Profit at promo price − Deal fee
- Lift needed = (Baseline profit + Deal fee) ÷ Profit at promo price ÷ Baseline units − 1
Example
A week at $23.99 with a 60% lift earns slightly less than baseline: profit per unit drops about 45%, so you need roughly a 75% lift to break even.
Frequently asked questions
What lift do Lightning Deals produce?
Commonly 2–5× normal daily units during the deal window, but it depends on deal placement, discount depth and the category. Use your own past deals if you have them.
Are ranking benefits included?
No. Higher velocity can improve organic rank after the promotion, which is upside the calculator does not count.