ProfitHelm

Break-Even ACOS Calculator

Find your maximum profitable ACOS. Know exactly how much you can spend on ads without losing money.

Product Economics

Enter costs for one product sale

$

What you charge customers

$

Cost to manufacture or purchase

$

Cost to ship to customer

$

Payment processing, platform fees

$

Packaging, returns allowance, etc.

%

Optional: See if you're profitable

ACOS Analysis

Your advertising thresholds

Break-Even ACOS

0.0%

Max ad spend: $0.00 per sale

Target ACOS Zones

0%ProfitableRisky0.0%
Conservative

High profit, slower growth

< 0.0%
Moderate

Balanced approach

< 0.0%
Aggressive

Growth focus, thin margins

< 0.0%
Total Costs$0.00
Profit Before Ads$0.00

ACOS Strategy by Goal

Maximize Profit

Target: 40-50% of break-even ACOS

Best for: Established products, cash-conscious brands

Trade-off: Slower volume growth

Balanced Growth

Target: 60-70% of break-even ACOS

Best for: Scaling products, most businesses

Trade-off: Moderate profits + growth

Aggressive Scaling

Target: 80-95% of break-even ACOS

Best for: Launches, market capture, high LTV products

Trade-off: Minimal profit, maximum volume

Related Calculators

Profit Margin

Calculate gross and net margins

Customer LTV

Justify higher ACOS with LTV

Shopify Fees

Include transaction fees in ACOS

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is break-even ACOS?

Break-even ACOS (Advertising Cost of Sale) is the percentage of revenue you can spend on ads without losing money. If your break-even ACOS is 30%, spending more than 30% on ads means you're losing money on that sale.

How do I calculate break-even ACOS?

Break-even ACOS = Profit Margin %. If your product sells for $100 with $60 in costs (COGS + fees), your profit margin is 40%, so your break-even ACOS is 40%. Any ACOS below this is profitable.

What is a good ACOS for e-commerce?

A good ACOS depends on your profit margin. Target an ACOS that's 50-70% of your break-even ACOS to maintain healthy profits. For example, if break-even is 40%, aim for 20-28% ACOS for profitable campaigns.

Why is my ACOS higher than my profit margin?

If your ACOS exceeds your profit margin, you're losing money on ads. Either reduce ad spend, improve ad targeting, raise prices, lower COGS, or accept the loss for customer acquisition (if LTV justifies it).

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