How to use the furniture delivery total cost calculator
- Enter the item price and the quantity. Add a discount percent if the items are on sale.
- Enter the delivery or shipping charge and any other fees, such as assembly or removal of an old item.
- Enter the sales tax rate you are charged. It starts at 0, so nothing is assumed. Choose what the tax applies to: items only, items and delivery, or everything.
- Read the total, how much is added on top of the items, the share that extra is of the item cost, and the total per item. Use Copy, Print or CSV to keep it.
Formula
Items = price x quantity x (1 - discount / 100)
Tax = tax rate x taxed amount (items; or items + delivery; or items + delivery + fees)
Total = items + delivery + fees + tax
Total per item = total / quantity
Which parts are taxed depends on the seller and the place. The choice menu lets you test each case.
A $500 item with $40 delivery and 8% tax
A $500 item with $40 delivery and an 8% tax rate charged on the item only has tax of 0.08 x 500 = $40. The total is 500 + 40 + 40 = $580, which is $80 more than the price on the tag.
Change the numbers: two items at $500 with a 10% discount cost $900. Add $40 delivery and $60 of fees with 8% tax, and the total is $1,072 when tax applies to items only, $1,075.20 when delivery is taxed too, and $1,080 when everything is taxed. The extras add 19% to the cost of the items.
The price on the tag is rarely the final price
Furniture, appliances and other bulky items often carry delivery, assembly and removal charges that appear only at checkout. Together with tax they can add a noticeable share to the sticker price. Entering them all in one place lets you compare stores on the full cost instead of the headline.
Quotes from different sellers may include different things. One may have free delivery but a higher price, another may add a fee at the end. Total each one the same way and compare the final numbers.
Questions to ask before you buy
Ask whether delivery includes carrying the item into the room, whether assembly is optional, how returns are handled and who pays for return shipping. A low total with expensive returns may cost more if the item does not suit you.
The landed cost calculator does a similar job for businesses importing goods. To judge whether the total is worth it over time, use the cost per use calculator. The discount calculator and sales tax calculator work out those parts on their own.
Assumptions and limits
- The sales tax rate is whatever you enter. It starts at 0, and no rate is built in.
- The discount applies to the items only, not to delivery or fees.
- Rebates, trade-in credits and financing charges are not modeled.
- The numbers you enter at first are examples of how the tool works, not prices or fees you should expect.
Frequently asked questions
How do I work out the total cost of something I am buying?
Add the item cost after any discount, then delivery and fees, then the tax. The tool does these steps and shows the total and the extra you pay above the tag price.
Is tax charged on delivery?
It depends on the seller and the place. Use the menu to choose items only, items and delivery, or everything, and compare the totals.
What does total per item mean?
It is the total divided by the quantity, which lets you compare a multi-item order with buying one at a time.
Why is there a share of item cost?
It shows the extra paid on top of the items as a percent, which makes it easy to compare how much the add-ons matter from one purchase to another.