How to Compare Multipacks and Single Items

A box of 12 × 330 mL cans costs $7.99. A twin pack of 2-liter bottles of the same drink costs $4.98.

The bottles are about 38% cheaper per liter. The calculator below opens with exactly this setup — change the prices to match your store.

Yogurt shows the same pattern with weight. Here are three ways to buy the same yogurt:

The tub is 20% cheaper than the 4-pack for the same 500 g, and about 11% cheaper than the 8-pack, even though the 8-pack has twice as much. Single portions cost extra; whether that is worth it depends on whether you would otherwise waste yogurt from an open tub.

Tea bags are sold as 3 boxes of 20 for $5.97, or a single box of 100 for $8.49.

1. 3 × 20 = 60 bags for $5.97 → $5.97 ÷ 60 ≈ $0.100 per bag.
2. 100 bags for $8.49 → $8.49 ÷ 100 ≈ $0.085 per bag.
3. The 100-box is about 15% cheaper per bag.

In the calculator, enter 20 as the size, choose “ct”, and type 3 in the × field. For count items the cost per item calculator is already set up.

Multipack labels come in many styles: “6 × 330 mL”, “12 – 12 FL OZ (355 mL) cans”, “Net wt 6 × 1 oz (28 g)”, “4 PK 125 G EA”, or a total only, like “72 FL OZ TOTAL”. Find two numbers: how many items, and how much is in one. If only the total is printed, enter the total as the size and leave the pack count at 1.

1. Enter the price of the whole pack.
2. Enter the size of one item — 330 mL, 12 fl oz, 125 g — and its unit.
3. Tap + Multipack and enter the number of items.
4. The note under the result shows the total, e.g. “12 × 330 mL = 3,960 mL”, so you can check it.

A higher price per unit can still be the right buy. Cans stay fizzy until opened; a 2-liter bottle loses carbonation once it is open. Single cups help with portion control and lunch boxes. If a big container would leave you throwing some away, compare the price per unit you actually use — see cost per use — and remember that bigger is not always cheaper anyway: see is buying in bulk always cheaper?

For the classic soda question, the 6-pack vs. 2-liter calculator opens with a 6-pack of 12 fl oz cans and a 2-liter bottle ready to compare.

Variety packs of single-serve snacks often cost more per ounce than one big bag. An 18-bag variety pack of 1 oz bags costs $8.99; one 10 oz bag of a similar snack costs $4.29.

1. Variety pack: 18 × 1 oz = 18 oz, so $8.99 ÷ 18 ≈ $0.50 per oz.
2. Big bag: $4.29 ÷ 10 ≈ $0.43 per oz.
3. The variety pack costs about 16% more per ounce.

You are paying for portioning and choice. That can be worth it for lunch boxes; just know the price.

1. Find the number of items and the size of one.
2. Multiply to get the total amount.
3. Divide the price by the total.
4. Compare with single items and other pack sizes, including any on sale.
5. Decide whether portion size or freshness is worth any extra cost.

• Entering the pack price with the size of one item but forgetting the count — the price per unit comes out several times too high.
• Missing a bonus item: “12 + 2 free” is 14 items, so enter 14.
• Converting units in your head: enter each pack in the unit printed on it and let the calculator convert.