Unit Rate Inputs
Compare two options or calculate the per-unit value of one total.
Unit Rate Calculator
Calculate and compare cost, speed, and other rates per single unit
How It Works
A unit rate expresses a total amount for one unit, such as dollars per item, miles per hour, or cost per ounce.
Use the comparison mode to see which option has the lower cost per unit and how much the difference represents.
- Unit rate = total amount divided by number of units.
- Comparison mode calculates both unit rates using the same unit concept.
- Totals and quantities must be nonnegative, with quantity greater than zero.
- Currency and unit labels are descriptive and do not change the underlying math.
Formulas
Unit rate = total amount / number of units
Unit-rate difference = higher rate - lower rate
Percent difference = unit-rate difference / higher rate x 100
Grocery price
$6.00 for 24 ounces
$0.25 per ounce
Unit pricing makes different package sizes easier to compare.
Travel speed
180 miles in 3 hours
60 miles per hour
Any total-over-units relationship can be expressed as a rate.
Compare packages
$4.50 for 12 items vs $6.40 for 20 items
Option B costs less per item
The lower total price is not always the lower unit price.
What is a unit rate?
It is a rate written for exactly one unit, such as $2 per item or 55 miles per hour.
Can I use non-currency amounts?
Yes. Enter any total and quantity, then use the labels in your own context.
Why must quantity be greater than zero?
Division by zero has no defined unit rate, so the calculator asks for a positive quantity.
How should I compare package sizes?
Enter each package price as the total and each package count or measurement as the units.