Price Elasticity Calculator

Calculate price elasticity of demand. See if demand is elastic or inelastic and optimize pricing.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: SBA — Business Guide

$
$

Price Elasticity

2.00

Type

Elastic

Revenue Change

+$4,000.00

Elasticity Analysis

Price Elasticity of Demand2.000
TypeElastic
Price Change-10.0%
Quantity Change+20.0%

Revenue Impact

Revenue at Original Price$50,000.00
Revenue at New Price$54,000.00
Revenue Change+$4,000.00
Revenue Change %+8.0%

Use the Price Elasticity Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Whether you sell software subscriptions or physical goods, the question of how buyers react when you move a price is central to pricing strategy. This calculator measures that sensitivity directly, so you can locate the price points that hold demand and protect, or even lift, your 2026 revenue.

The math here follows the Midpoint Method for price elasticity of demand (PED). Its formula is ((Q2 - Q1) / ((Q2 + Q1) / 2)) / ((P2 - P1) / ((P2 + P1) / 2)), where Q1 and P1 are the starting quantity and price and Q2 and P2 are the new quantity and price. Averaging the start and end values keeps the result symmetric no matter which direction the price moves.

Results are only as trustworthy as the data behind them, and the analysis window deserves particular attention. Squeeze the period too tight and you may miss the full demand response to a price change. Leaving out external forces, competitor moves, seasonal swings, and the like, can also push the elasticity figure away from what the market is really doing.

Example: Premium Coffee Beans

  1. 1 Enter your initial price and quantity demanded, then your new price and the resulting quantity demanded. For instance, if you initially sold 1,200 bags of premium coffee beans at $18.00 per bag, and after increasing the price to $20.00, sales dropped to 1,000 bags.
  2. 2 Input Initial Quantity (Q1): 1200, Initial Price (P1): 18.00, New Quantity (Q2): 1000, New Price (P2): 20.00. The calculator will then apply the Midpoint Method formula.
  3. 3 The calculated Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) is -1.82. Since the absolute value (1.82) is greater than 1, demand for your premium coffee beans is elastic.
  4. 4 An elasticity of -1.82 suggests that a 1% price increase leads to a 1.82% decrease in quantity demanded. This indicates that customers are quite sensitive to price changes for your coffee beans, so further price increases might significantly reduce your total revenue.

Source: SBA — Business Guide · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a price elasticity of -2 mean?
A price elasticity of -2 means demand is elastic: a 1% price increase causes a 2% drop in quantity demanded. Revenue falls when you raise prices on elastic goods.
Is food elastic or inelastic?
Basic staple foods like bread and rice are generally inelastic (elasticity between 0 and -1) because people need them regardless of price. Luxury foods and restaurant meals tend to be more elastic.
How do you use price elasticity to set prices?
If demand is inelastic (between 0 and -1), raising prices increases revenue. If demand is elastic (below -1), lowering prices increases revenue because the volume gain outweighs the per-unit loss.