Cost Per Square Inch Calculator
Calculate the cost per square inch for any item or material, such as fabric, paper, flooring, or packaging. Simply enter the total cost of the item and its total area in square inches.
Enter Cost and Area
Understanding Cost Per Square Inch
What is Cost Per Square Inch?
Cost per square inch is a unit price that tells you how much you pay for every square inch of a product or material's surface area. It's calculated by dividing the total cost by the total area in square inches. This metric is useful for comparing the value of different products sold in varying sizes or quantities, especially flat materials like fabric, vinyl, paper, sheet metal, or even small electronic components and printed circuit boards.
Cost Per Square Inch Formula
The formula is straightforward:
Cost Per Square Inch = Total Cost / Total Area (in sq in)
Both the total cost and the total area must be positive values for the calculation to be meaningful.
Why Calculate Cost Per Square Inch?
Calculating cost per square inch helps consumers and businesses make informed decisions. It allows for a direct comparison of prices across different sizes or brands of a product, revealing which option offers the most material for the money. It's particularly useful when purchasing materials like fabric (per yard vs. per bolt), flooring (various tile sizes), or packaging materials.
Real-Life Cost Per Square Inch Examples
Here are a few examples demonstrating how to calculate cost per square inch:
Example 1: Fabric Purchase
Scenario: You buy a piece of fabric that is 36 inches wide and 60 inches long for $18.00.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $18.00, Width = 36 in, Length = 60 in.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area = Width × Length = 36 in × 60 in = 2160 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $18.00 / 2160 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In ≈ $0.0083 per sq in.
Conclusion: The fabric costs about $0.0083 for every square inch.
Example 2: Photo Print
Scenario: An 8x10 inch photo print costs $3.99.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $3.99, Width = 8 in, Height = 10 in.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area = Width × Height = 8 in × 10 in = 80 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $3.99 / 80 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In ≈ $0.0499 per sq in.
Conclusion: The photo print costs roughly $0.05 per square inch.
Example 3: Vinyl Flooring Tile
Scenario: A box of 12x12 inch vinyl flooring tiles (20 tiles per box) costs $45.00.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $45.00, Tile Size = 12 in x 12 in, Number of Tiles = 20.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area per tile = 12 in × 12 in = 144 sq in. Total Area = 144 sq in/tile × 20 tiles = 2880 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $45.00 / 2880 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In ≈ $0.0156 per sq in.
Conclusion: The vinyl flooring costs about $0.0156 per square inch.
Example 4: Sheet Metal
Scenario: You buy a sheet of metal that is 24 inches by 36 inches for $30.00.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $30.00, Width = 24 in, Length = 36 in.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area = Width × Length = 24 in × 36 in = 864 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $30.00 / 864 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In ≈ $0.0347 per sq in.
Conclusion: The sheet metal costs approximately $0.0347 per square inch.
Example 5: Custom Sticker
Scenario: A custom sticker printed at 4 inches by 6 inches costs $1.20.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $1.20, Width = 4 in, Height = 6 in.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area = Width × Height = 4 in × 6 in = 24 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $1.20 / 24 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In = $0.05 per sq in.
Conclusion: The custom sticker costs $0.05 for each square inch.
Example 6: Printing Paper
Scenario: A pack of 500 sheets of standard 8.5x11 inch paper costs $6.50.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $6.50, Sheet Size = 8.5 in x 11 in, Number of Sheets = 500.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area per sheet = 8.5 in × 11 in = 93.5 sq in. Total Area = 93.5 sq in/sheet × 500 sheets = 46750 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $6.50 / 46750 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In ≈ $0.000139 per sq in.
Conclusion: The paper costs a fraction of a cent per square inch.
Example 7: Small Electronic Component
Scenario: A small integrated circuit with dimensions 0.5 inches by 0.5 inches costs $0.75.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $0.75, Width = 0.5 in, Length = 0.5 in.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area = Width × Length = 0.5 in × 0.5 in = 0.25 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $0.75 / 0.25 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In = $3.00 per sq in.
Conclusion: This small component is relatively expensive per square inch compared to larger items.
Example 8: Packaging Material
Scenario: A roll of bubble wrap is 12 inches wide and 100 feet long, costing $15.00.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $15.00, Width = 12 in, Length = 100 ft.
2. Convert to Inches & Calculate Total Area: Length in inches = 100 ft * 12 in/ft = 1200 in. Total Area = 12 in × 1200 in = 14400 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $15.00 / 14400 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In ≈ $0.00104 per sq in.
Conclusion: The bubble wrap costs about a tenth of a cent per square inch.
Example 9: Artwork Canvas
Scenario: A blank stretched canvas for painting is 16 inches by 20 inches and costs $8.00.
1. Known Values: Total Cost = $8.00, Width = 16 in, Height = 20 in.
2. Calculate Total Area: Area = Width × Height = 16 in × 20 in = 320 sq in.
3. Formula: Cost Per Sq In = Total Cost / Total Area
4. Calculation: Cost Per Sq In = $8.00 / 320 sq in
5. Result: Cost Per Sq In = $0.025 per sq in.
Conclusion: The canvas costs $0.025 per square inch.
Example 10: Comparing Two Rolls of Ribbon
Scenario: Roll A: 1 inch wide, 30 feet long, costs $5.00. Roll B: 1.5 inches wide, 20 feet long, costs $6.00.
1. Calculate Area & Cost/Sq In for Roll A: Length A = 30 ft * 12 in/ft = 360 in. Area A = 1 in * 360 in = 360 sq in. Cost/Sq In A = $5.00 / 360 sq in ≈ $0.0139/sq in.
2. Calculate Area & Cost/Sq In for Roll B: Length B = 20 ft * 12 in/ft = 240 in. Area B = 1.5 in * 240 in = 360 sq in. Cost/Sq In B = $6.00 / 360 sq in ≈ $0.0167/sq in.
3. Comparison: Roll A costs ≈ $0.0139/sq in. Roll B costs ≈ $0.0167/sq in.
Conclusion: Roll A is slightly cheaper per square inch, even though Roll B has a higher total price.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cost Per Square Inch
1. Why is calculating cost per square inch useful?
It helps you compare the value of products sold in different sizes or quantities by standardizing the price to a single unit of area (the square inch), making it easier to find the most cost-effective option.
2. What kind of items is this calculation typically used for?
It's commonly used for flat materials like fabric, paper, flooring (tiles, sheets), sheet metal, vinyl, packaging materials, decals, stickers, and even small electronics or printed circuit boards.
3. Do I need to use inches specifically?
Yes, this calculator is specifically for Cost Per *Square Inch*. If your area is in square feet, square meters, etc., you must convert it to square inches before using the calculator (1 sq ft = 144 sq in, 1 sq m ≈ 1550 sq in).
4. Can I calculate cost per square foot using this?
Not directly. You would first calculate the total area in square feet, then use that in the calculation. Or, calculate cost per square inch and then multiply by 144 to get cost per square foot (since 1 sq ft = 144 sq in).
5. What happens if I enter zero for the Total Area?
The calculator will show an error because you cannot divide by zero. A product must have some positive area to have a meaningful cost per square inch.
6. What happens if I enter zero for the Total Cost?
The calculator will show that the cost per square inch is zero, which makes sense if the item is free.
7. Can I use currencies other than dollars?
Yes, you can enter the total cost in any currency. The result will be in the same currency unit per square inch. The calculator doesn't perform currency conversion.
8. How do I convert area from other units to square inches?
- Square Feet (sq ft) to Square Inches (sq in): Multiply by 144 (since 1 ft = 12 in, 1 sq ft = 12in * 12in = 144 sq in).
- Square Yards (sq yd) to Square Inches (sq in): Multiply by 1296 (since 1 yd = 36 in, 1 sq yd = 36in * 36in = 1296 sq in).
- Square Meters (sq m) to Square Inches (sq in): Multiply by approximately 1550.003 (since 1 meter ≈ 39.37 inches, 1 sq m ≈ 39.37in * 39.37in).
9. Does this work for 3D objects (volume)?
No, this calculator is for *area* (2D surface) based cost comparison, not volume (3D space) based cost comparison like cost per cubic foot or cubic meter.
10. What if the item is not rectangular or square?
You need to find the total area of the item in square inches first. If it's a complex shape, you might need other geometric formulas or measurement tools to determine the total area before using this calculator.
