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Which Pack Is Really Cheaper? How to Compare Unit Prices
Quick Work Studio · 2026-10-02
Supermarkets are full of packs in odd sizes: 340 ml here, 650 ml there, "buy 2 get 1" next to a family pack. The only reliable way to know which is cheaper is to compare the unit price: the price per kilogram, per litre, or per piece.
How to work it out
Divide the price by the quantity, using the same unit for both packs. A 1 kg pack at ₹220 is ₹220 per kg. A 500 g pack at ₹115 is ₹115 ÷ 0.5 = ₹230 per kg. The big pack is cheaper here, but not by much.
Bigger isn't always better
Compare a 340 ml shampoo at ₹299 with a 650 ml bottle at ₹549. Per 100 ml, that's about ₹87.9 versus ₹84.5, the big bottle wins, but only by about 4%. Sometimes, especially during offers on smaller packs, the small size is actually cheaper per unit. You only find out by checking.
Look for the unit price on the label
Rules introduced in 2022 require most packaged goods sold in India to print a unit sale price, for example, the price per kg or per litre, alongside the MRP. It's often in small print, but it saves you doing the maths in the aisle.
Traps to watch for
- Different units: one pack in grams, another in kilograms; one in ml, another in litres. Convert first.
- Multi-buy offers: "3 for ₹500" only helps if you'd use all three before they expire.
- Shrinkflation: a pack that looks the same may contain less than it used to. Always check the weight, not just the price.
- Waste: the cheapest per kg is no bargain if half of it goes off before you use it.
Try it: the Unit Price Comparator compares up to three packs side by side, even when one is in grams and another in kilograms. To check how much an offer really saves, use the Discount Calculator or the Percentage Calculator.