You’re standing in front of a shelf filled with five different brands of oatmeal—each with its own price, package size, and bold claims of being the best value. But which one actually gives you the most for your money? That’s where unit pricing comes in, and once you know how to use it, you’ll never shop the same way again.
What Is Unit Pricing?
Unit pricing shows you the cost of an item per standardized measurement—like per ounce, pound, or 100-count—so you can compare different sizes and brands more accurately. While the main shelf tag shows the total price, the unit price (usually in smaller print below) tells you how much you’re really paying for what you’re getting.
For example, if a 16-ounce jar of peanut butter costs $3.20, the unit price is $0.20 per ounce. If the 28-ounce jar next to it costs $5.60, its unit price is $0.20 per ounce too—meaning both are priced equally per ounce, but the larger jar gives you more total product.
How It Helps You Save
Unit prices are especially helpful when:
- Comparing regular vs. family sizes
- Looking at sale items vs. regular price
- Choosing between name brands and store brands
- Evaluating bulk deals or multipacks
It also helps you avoid “shrinkflation”—when brands quietly reduce the amount of product without changing the price. Two boxes of cereal might look identical, but one could contain two fewer ounces for the same price. The unit price exposes that trick instantly.
Where to Find the Unit Price
In most U.S. stores, you’ll see the unit price on the shelf label, usually in the bottom corner or underneath the item’s name. It’s listed as cost per ounce, pound, quart, liter, or item—depending on the product. If you’re shopping at a retailer that doesn’t display unit pricing, you can calculate it yourself by dividing the total price by the total quantity.
For example:
- $4.99 ÷ 20 ounces = $0.25 per ounce
- $3.29 ÷ 12 rolls = $0.27 per roll
When Bigger Isn’t Always Better
While larger packages often have a lower unit price, that’s not always the case—especially if the smaller size is on sale. And if it’s a perishable item you won’t use up before it expires, buying the larger size might not actually save you money in the long run.
Use unit pricing to spot true savings and avoid stocking up on products that won’t get used.
Useful Tools
Apps like Out of Milk let you compare prices across local stores and track unit prices as you shop. If you’re buying online, some retailers like Walmart and Target include unit pricing on their product pages—just scroll down to the product details.
