Tariff Cost Passthrough Calculator

Model how much of a tariff-driven cost increase to pass through to customers versus absorb. See the impact on your gross margins and annual profitability instantly.

All calculations run in your browser — your data never leaves your device.

Your Product Details

$
%
$
AbsorbPass through
50%passed to customer

Margin Impact Analysis

Tariff Cost Per Unit
$12.50
New Selling Price
$106.25
+$6.25 from passthrough
Original Gross Margin
50.0%
New Gross Margin
41.2%
-8.8 pp change
Annual Impact @ 0% Passthrough
-$150,000
Full absorption
Annual Impact @ 100% Passthrough
$0
Full passthrough
Breakeven Passthrough % (to maintain original margin %)
200% (exceeds 100%)
Maintaining the same margin % requires passing through more than the tariff cost, because margins are calculated on the higher price. At 100% passthrough, your dollar margin is preserved but your margin percentage will decrease slightly.
Recommendation

At 50% passthrough, you're splitting the $12.50 per-unit tariff cost between you and your customers. Your gross margin moves from 50.0% to 41.2%, a 8.8 percentage point decrease. To maintain your original margin %, you'd need 200% passthrough. A balanced approach: pass through enough to protect margins while monitoring volume impact.

How the Tariff Passthrough Calculator Works

This calculator models the financial impact of passing tariff costs through to your customers. Enter your per-unit product cost, the applicable tariff rate, your current selling price, and monthly volume. Then use the slider to explore different passthrough scenarios — from full absorption (0%) to full passthrough (100%).

The breakeven passthrough percentage tells you the minimum you must pass through to maintain your current gross margin rate. Note: because gross margin is expressed as a percentage of selling price, maintaining the same margin rate often requires passing through more than 100% of the tariff cost. At exactly 100% passthrough, your dollar margin per unit stays the same, but the percentage shrinks because it's divided by a higher selling price.

For importers evaluating IEEPA tariff refund claims, see our tariff refund calculator or full claim pricing tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is tariff cost passthrough?

Tariff cost passthrough is the portion of a tariff-related cost increase that an importer passes on to their customers through higher prices, rather than absorbing into their own margin. A 100% passthrough means the customer pays the full tariff increase; 0% means the importer absorbs it entirely.

How do I decide how much tariff cost to pass through?

The optimal passthrough percentage depends on your product's price elasticity, competitive landscape, and margin structure. Products with inelastic demand (essentials, unique goods) can typically pass through more. Commoditized products in competitive markets may need to absorb more to retain customers.

What is the breakeven passthrough percentage?

The breakeven passthrough percentage is the minimum portion of tariff cost you must pass through to customers in order to maintain your original gross margin percentage. Below this threshold, your margins shrink; above it, they improve relative to pre-tariff levels.

Is my data safe when using this calculator?

Yes. All calculations run entirely in your web browser using client-side JavaScript. Your pricing, margin, and volume data are never sent to any server, stored in any database, or tracked in any way.