Price per Weight Calculator App: Faster, Smarter Bids
A dedicated price per weight calculator helps you compare lots in seconds—so you don’t overpay, miss value, or forget fees, transport, or tax. Below you’ll find quick formulas, worked examples, and why the Livestock Auction Calculator is the simplest way to get a true landed unit price on your phone.
What “price per weight” means
It’s the cost per unit of liveweight—ideal for comparing animals of different sizes and forecasting a fair landed cost after fees and transport.
- Unit price = hammer ÷ liveweight (units)
- Per head = unit price × liveweight (units)
- Landed unit price = (hammer + fees + transport + tax if charged on top) ÷ liveweight (units)
Phone-friendly formulas
per_unit_from_per_head = per_head ÷ weight_units
per_head_from_per_unit = per_unit × weight_units
landed_per_unit = (hammer + premium + commission + yard/agent_fees + transport + tax) ÷ weight_units
Worked examples
Example A: 520 units at $2.35/unit → Per head = 2.35 × 520 = $1,222.00
Example B (add fees & transport): 500 units @ $2.20/unit
Hammer = 2.20 × 500 = $1,100.00
Buyer’s premium $22.00 + commission $15 + yard/handling $8 + transport $35 → $1,180.00
Landed unit price = 1,180 ÷ 500 = $2.36/unit
Quick reference: price per weight ($/unit) → per head
| Weight (units) | $2.00/unit | $2.20/unit | $2.40/unit | $2.60/unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 400 | $800 | $880 | $960 | $1,040 |
| 450 | $900 | $990 | $1,080 | $1,170 |
| 500 | $1,000 | $1,100 | $1,200 | $1,300 |
| 550 | $1,100 | $1,210 | $1,320 | $1,430 |
| 600 | $1,200 | $1,320 | $1,440 | $1,560 |
| 650 | $1,300 | $1,430 | $1,560 | $1,690 |
Fees, transport & tax in price per weight
- Commission / buyer’s premium
- Yard / handling fees
- Transport
- Tax when charged on top
How to use the app to calculate price per weight
- Enter weight (units) and hammer ($/unit).
- Add commission/premium, yard/handling, transport (and tax if applicable).
- (Optional) Set shrink % to sanity-check post-haul value.
- Read off per head, unit price, and landed unit price.
FAQs
What’s the difference between per head and unit price?
Unit price keeps bids comparable across different weights; per head tells you the total spend for the animal. Use both for better decisions.
How many decimals should I use?
Two decimals are standard. Use more only if your market requires it.
How do I handle group lots?
Use the lot’s average liveweight. The calculator handles groups cleanly.
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Helpful resources (outbound)
- FAO — Meat Price Index
- FAOSTAT — Livestock data
- OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook
- World Bank — Commodity Markets
- USDA AMS — Livestock Market News
- International Meat Secretariat
Related: Shrink: how weight loss changes unit price · Fees, transport & tax explained