Materials

Unit Cost

The total expense incurred to produce or procure a single unit of product.

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Updated 2025-10-01

Definition

Unit cost includes manufacturing, labor, materials, overhead, and logistics costs divided by the total number of units produced or purchased.

Overview

Overview

Calculating unit cost is essential for pricing, profitability analysis, and inventory valuation.

Components

  • Direct material and labor
  • Manufacturing overhead
  • Shipping and logistics costs

Example

A company producing 1,000 widgets incurs $50,000 in total costs, resulting in a unit cost of $50 per widget.

Tags

#Unit Cost#Materials#Inventory#Pricing#Manufacturing

Related Terms

Landed Cost
Economic Order Quantity (EOQ)
Weighted Average Cost of Inventory