The Real Cost-Per-Unit Index
The same everyday product can cost up to 260× more per ml depending on which brand you grab. We tracked the real per-unit price of 5604 products across 29 categories on Amazon US — here’s the cheapest, the typical, and the most expensive in each.
Updated July 2026 · 5604 products · derived from continuously tracked prices
260×
Skincare
$0.12 → $30.00 / ml
92×
Fragrance
$0.26 → $24.00 / ml
74×
Hair & body
$1.07 → $79.06 / fl oz
42×
Printer ink & toner
$0.010 → $0.42 / page
Cost per unit by category
| Category | Cheapest | Median | Most expensive | Spread | Tracked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare per ml | $0.12 | $1.66 | $30.00 | 260× | 1468 |
| Fragrance per ml | $0.26 | $1.84 | $24.00 | 92× | 1541 |
| Hair & body per fl oz | $1.07 | $4.73 | $79.06 | 74× | 831 |
| Printer ink & toner per page | $0.010 | $0.070 | $0.42 | 42× | 46 |
| Shave & beard per fl oz | $1.25 | $5.30 | $47.32 | 38× | 74 |
| Dish soap per fl oz | $0.066 | $0.40 | $1.97 | 30× | 51 |
| Dog treats per lb | $1.50 | $7.14 | $43.78 | 29× | 90 |
| Batteries per battery | $0.25 | $0.94 | $6.00 | 24× | 97 |
| Body care per fl oz | $1.63 | $4.23 | $34.01 | 21× | 187 |
| Pet food per lb | $0.87 | $1.57 | $14.99 | 17× | 42 |
| Food storage bags per bag | $0.029 | $0.14 | $0.38 | 13× | 30 |
| Toothpaste per oz | $0.28 | $1.36 | $2.94 | 11× | 49 |
| Paper plates per plate | $0.029 | $0.10 | $0.30 | 10× | 35 |
| Bath & soak per fl oz | $0.87 | $2.01 | $8.80 | 10× | 12 |
| Makeup per ml | $0.69 | $1.60 | $6.95 | 10× | 186 |
| Deodorant per oz | $0.75 | $2.44 | $6.67 | 8.9× | 70 |
| Laundry detergent per load | $0.080 | $0.24 | $0.66 | 8.2× | 44 |
| Shaving & grooming per cartridge | $0.78 | $2.58 | $6.25 | 8.0× | 41 |
| Toilet paper per 100 sheets | $0.18 | $0.56 | $1.31 | 7.3× | 37 |
| Baby care per diaper | $0.12 | $0.49 | $0.85 | 7.1× | 56 |
| Trash bags per bag | $0.10 | $0.24 | $0.70 | 6.9× | 62 |
| Protein bars per bar | $0.71 | $1.79 | $3.93 | 5.5× | 78 |
| Coffee pods (K-Cups) per pod | $0.31 | $0.64 | $1.70 | 5.4× | 168 |
| Cat litter per lb | $0.52 | $0.95 | $2.62 | 5.0× | 38 |
| Nail polish per ml | $0.42 | $0.83 | $1.86 | 4.4× | 142 |
| Dishwasher pods per pod | $0.16 | $0.29 | $0.60 | 3.9× | 31 |
| Office & copy paper per sheet | $0.011 | $0.014 | $0.038 | 3.4× | 29 |
| Paper towels per 100 sheets | $1.23 | $2.42 | $4.04 | 3.3× | 23 |
| Motor oil & fluids per quart | $4.27 | $7.19 | $12.79 | 3.0× | 46 |
“Spread” = most expensive ÷ cheapest per-unit price within the category. Median is the midpoint of all tracked products, so half cost less and half cost more.
What’s a good price per unit?
A quick gut-check. At or below the Great column you’re in the cheapest quarter of the market; above Overpaying you’re in the priciest quarter.
| Category | Great (≤) | Fair (≈) | Overpaying (≥) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skincare / ml | $0.74 | $1.66 | $3.65 |
| Fragrance / ml | $1.20 | $1.84 | $3.24 |
| Hair & body / fl oz | $3.31 | $4.73 | $7.06 |
| Printer ink & toner / page | $0.043 | $0.070 | $0.10 |
| Shave & beard / fl oz | $3.04 | $5.30 | $12.01 |
| Dish soap / fl oz | $0.25 | $0.40 | $1.04 |
| Dog treats / lb | $4.00 | $7.14 | $11.34 |
| Batteries / battery | $0.62 | $0.94 | $1.67 |
| Body care / fl oz | $3.52 | $4.23 | $6.72 |
| Pet food / lb | $1.15 | $1.57 | $2.05 |
| Food storage bags / bag | $0.074 | $0.14 | $0.19 |
| Toothpaste / oz | $0.78 | $1.36 | $1.85 |
| Paper plates / plate | $0.081 | $0.10 | $0.15 |
| Bath & soak / fl oz | $1.03 | $2.01 | $3.31 |
| Makeup / ml | $1.29 | $1.60 | $2.67 |
| Deodorant / oz | $1.53 | $2.44 | $4.25 |
| Laundry detergent / load | $0.19 | $0.24 | $0.29 |
| Shaving & grooming / cartridge | $1.83 | $2.58 | $3.79 |
| Toilet paper / 100 sheets | $0.35 | $0.56 | $0.83 |
| Baby care / diaper | $0.35 | $0.49 | $0.57 |
| Trash bags / bag | $0.17 | $0.24 | $0.34 |
| Protein bars / bar | $1.51 | $1.79 | $2.22 |
| Coffee pods (K-Cups) / pod | $0.55 | $0.64 | $0.85 |
| Cat litter / lb | $0.82 | $0.95 | $1.30 |
| Nail polish / ml | $0.81 | $0.83 | $1.44 |
| Dishwasher pods / pod | $0.24 | $0.29 | $0.40 |
| Office & copy paper / sheet | $0.013 | $0.014 | $0.018 |
| Paper towels / 100 sheets | $2.04 | $2.42 | $2.93 |
| Motor oil & fluids / quart | $6.39 | $7.19 | $9.48 |
Cite this study
These figures are free to use with attribution to OutletPicks and a link back to this page. Ready-to-quote stats:
- “Skincare ranges from $0.12 to $30.00 per ml on Amazon US — a 260× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 1468 tracked products.”
- “Fragrance ranges from $0.26 to $24.00 per ml on Amazon US — a 92× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 1541 tracked products.”
- “Hair & body ranges from $1.07 to $79.06 per fl oz on Amazon US — a 74× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 831 tracked products.”
- “Printer ink & toner ranges from $0.010 to $0.42 per page on Amazon US — a 42× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 46 tracked products.”
- “Shave & beard ranges from $1.25 to $47.32 per fl oz on Amazon US — a 38× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 74 tracked products.”
- “Dish soap ranges from $0.066 to $1.97 per fl oz on Amazon US — a 30× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 51 tracked products.”
- “Dog treats ranges from $1.50 to $43.78 per lb on Amazon US — a 29× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 90 tracked products.”
- “Batteries ranges from $0.25 to $6.00 per battery on Amazon US — a 24× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 97 tracked products.”
- “Body care ranges from $1.63 to $34.01 per fl oz on Amazon US — a 21× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 187 tracked products.”
- “Pet food ranges from $0.87 to $14.99 per lb on Amazon US — a 17× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 42 tracked products.”
- “Food storage bags ranges from $0.029 to $0.38 per bag on Amazon US — a 13× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 30 tracked products.”
- “Toothpaste ranges from $0.28 to $2.94 per oz on Amazon US — a 11× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 49 tracked products.”
- “Paper plates ranges from $0.029 to $0.30 per plate on Amazon US — a 10× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 35 tracked products.”
- “Bath & soak ranges from $0.87 to $8.80 per fl oz on Amazon US — a 10× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 12 tracked products.”
- “Makeup ranges from $0.69 to $6.95 per ml on Amazon US — a 10× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 186 tracked products.”
- “Deodorant ranges from $0.75 to $6.67 per oz on Amazon US — a 8.9× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 70 tracked products.”
- “Laundry detergent ranges from $0.080 to $0.66 per load on Amazon US — a 8.2× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 44 tracked products.”
- “Shaving & grooming ranges from $0.78 to $6.25 per cartridge on Amazon US — a 8.0× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 41 tracked products.”
- “Toilet paper ranges from $0.18 to $1.31 per 100 sheets on Amazon US — a 7.3× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 37 tracked products.”
- “Baby care ranges from $0.12 to $0.85 per diaper on Amazon US — a 7.1× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 56 tracked products.”
- “Trash bags ranges from $0.10 to $0.70 per bag on Amazon US — a 6.9× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 62 tracked products.”
- “Protein bars ranges from $0.71 to $3.93 per bar on Amazon US — a 5.5× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 78 tracked products.”
- “Coffee pods (K-Cups) ranges from $0.31 to $1.70 per pod on Amazon US — a 5.4× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 168 tracked products.”
- “Cat litter ranges from $0.52 to $2.62 per lb on Amazon US — a 5.0× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 38 tracked products.”
- “Nail polish ranges from $0.42 to $1.86 per ml on Amazon US — a 4.4× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 142 tracked products.”
- “Dishwasher pods ranges from $0.16 to $0.60 per pod on Amazon US — a 3.9× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 31 tracked products.”
- “Office & copy paper ranges from $0.011 to $0.038 per sheet on Amazon US — a 3.4× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 29 tracked products.”
- “Paper towels ranges from $1.23 to $4.04 per 100 sheets on Amazon US — a 3.3× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 23 tracked products.”
- “Motor oil & fluids ranges from $4.27 to $12.79 per quart on Amazon US — a 3.0× gap between the cheapest and most expensive of 46 tracked products.”
Source: OutletPicks Real Cost-Per-Unit Index, July 2026.
URL: https://www.outletpicks.com/studies/cost-per-unit-index
License: CC BY 4.0 — reuse with attribution + link.
Methodology
Every product in our catalog is normalized to the unit that actually matters — cost per diaper, per page, per quart, per ml, per lb, per sheet, per cartridge — rather than sticker price, so a bulk pack and a travel size line up on the same scale. Prices are pulled from Amazon US and refreshed on a rolling cycle.
For each category we report the minimum (cheapest tracked product), the 25th percentile, the median, the 75th percentile, and the maximum, plus the “spread” (max ÷ min). We publish derived per-unit statistics only, not raw scraped prices. Figures reflect July 2026 and update as prices move.
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