What this calculator does
Many online stores ship free once an order reaches a minimum. When your cart is a few dollars short, you can pay the shipping fee or add something to reach the minimum. This calculator compares the two totals with sales tax and tells you which is cheaper, depending on whether you would buy the extra item anyway.
How the numbers work
- Pay shipping = cart × (1 + sales tax rate) + shipping fee.
- Add an item = (cart + item) × (1 + sales tax rate), but only if the cart plus the item reaches the minimum.
- If you would buy the item anyway, adding it saves the whole shipping fee.
- If you only add it to reach the minimum, it is worth it only when it costs less than the shipping fee ÷ (1 + sales tax rate).
Shipping is not taxed in the calculator: whether shipping charges are taxable depends on the state.
An example
Your cart is $42, free shipping starts at $50, shipping is $7.99 and sales tax is 7%. Paying shipping costs $42 × 1.07 + $7.99 = $52.93. Adding a $9.99 item you don't need costs $51.99 × 1.07 = $55.63, so paying shipping is $2.70 cheaper. An item you don't need would have to cost less than $7.47 to come out ahead. If you would buy the $9.99 item soon anyway, adding it now saves the $7.99 fee.
Tips
- Read the store's rule: some minimums leave out gift cards, sale items or items shipped by other sellers.
- Look for something you already need: household basics or a gift you were going to buy.
- Check the return policy: returning the filler item later can cost a return fee or remove free shipping.
- By law, a seller must ship within the time it promised, or within 30 days if it gave no time, or give you the choice to cancel for a refund (the FTC's Mail, Internet or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule).
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth adding an item to get free shipping?
Only if you would use the item, or if it costs less than the shipping fee after tax. Otherwise paying for shipping is usually cheaper.
Is shipping taxed?
It depends on the state and on how the store charges for it. The calculator leaves shipping untaxed; your receipt shows what was taxed.
Does the calculator know a store's minimum?
No. Type the minimum and fee shown at checkout. The calculator does not look up any store.
Is my information saved?
No. The numbers stay in your browser and are not sent to us.