Cost per Case Calculator
Calculate transportation cost per case shipped. Divide total freight cost by number of cases to measure delivery cost efficiency for case-pick operations.
Delivery Cost per Stop Calculator
Calculate delivery cost per stop by dividing total route cost by number of stops. Optimize last-mile delivery routes and set stop-based pricing models.
miles
hrs
Cost per Stopโง
$30.91
2.4 stops/hr productivity
Profit per Stopโง
$14.09
Profitable
Profit Marginโง
0.31%
$310.00 total route profit
Cost per Mileโง
$5.67
Revenue/mile: $8.25
Break-Even Stopsโง
16.00
Need 16 of 22 stops to cover cost
Cost per Driver Hourโง
$75.56
Avg 5.5 miles between stops
Monthly Route Profitโง
$6,820.00
Weekly: $1,550.00 (5-day week)
Revenue vs Cost Breakdown
Revenue
$990.00
Cost
$680.00
Stop Count Sensitivity
| Stops | Cost/Stop | Total Revenue | Profit | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | $48.57 | $630.00 | -$50.00 | -0.08% |
| 18 | $37.78 | $810.00 | $130.00 | 0.16% |
| 22 (current) | $30.91 | $990.00 | $310.00 | 0.31% |
| 26 | $26.15 | $1,170.00 | $490.00 | 0.42% |
| 30 | $22.67 | $1,350.00 | $670.00 | 0.50% |
| 34 | $20.00 | $1,530.00 | $850.00 | 0.56% |
Delivery Benchmarks by Vehicle
| Vehicle | Avg Stops/Day | Cost/Stop Range | Avg Route (mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cargo Van | 60-120 | $3-$8 | 40-80 |
| Sprinter Van | 30-60 | $8-$25 | 80-150 |
| Box Truck | 10-30 | $20-$80 | 100-300 |
| Semi / Tractor | 4-12 | $100-$400 | 200-600 |
Planning notes, formulas, and examples
About the Delivery Cost per Stop Calculator
Delivery cost per stop is a critical metric for last-mile delivery, direct store delivery (DSD), and route-based distribution operations. It captures the average cost to service each customer stop on a route, including drive time, unloading time, and a portion of the vehicle and driver fixed costs.
This metric helps operations managers evaluate route efficiency, set minimum delivery charges, and determine optimal stop counts per route. A route with 30 stops at $15/stop is more efficient than one with 10 stops at $45/stop, even if total costs are similar.
Use this calculator to compute cost per stop for any delivery route. Enter total route costs and number of stops to find your per-stop cost and evaluate whether adding or removing stops improves route economics.
Use the result to compare operating scenarios, pressure-test assumptions, and rerun the model when volumes, rates, or service targets change.
When This Page Helps
Cost per stop reveals the true economics of last-mile delivery. It helps you identify routes that are too sparse (high cost per stop) or too dense (driver overtime risk). It's also the basis for stop-based pricing models used by many delivery and distribution companies.
How to Use the Inputs
- Enter the total route cost (vehicle, driver, fuel, overhead).
- Enter the number of delivery stops on the route.
- View the cost per stop result.
- Enter average revenue per stop to see profitability.
- Compare cost per stop across different routes.
- Use results to set minimum delivery charges.
Formula used
Cost per Stop = Total Route Cost / Number of Stops
Route Cost = Vehicle Fixed Cost + Driver Pay + Fuel Cost + Overhead
Profit per Stop = Revenue per Stop รขหโ Cost per StopExample Calculation
Result: Cost per Stop = $30.91
Cost per Stop = $680 / 22 stops = $30.91. If average revenue per stop is $45, the profit is $14.09 per stop and $309.98 for the route. Adding 5 more stops at minimal incremental cost would reduce cost per stop to $25.19.
Tips & Best Practices
- Increase stop density by clustering deliveries in the same geographic area.
- Set minimum order values based on cost per stop to ensure profitability.
- Time-at-stop is the biggest variable รขโฌโ reduce it with pre-staged orders and efficient unloading.
- Track average cost per stop by route and day of week.
- Consider delivery windows that improve stop sequence efficiency.
- Separate fixed and variable components of stop cost for better analysis.
Optimizing Stop Count per Route
The relationship between stop count and cost per stop is not linear. The first few stops have high cost because fixed route costs (vehicle, driver base pay) are spread over few stops. As stops increase, cost per stop drops rapidly until you hit diminishing returns from increased drive time and risk of overtime.
Stop-Based Pricing Models
Many third-party logistics providers use stop-based pricing to charge customers. Knowing your cost per stop lets you set profitable rates. Typical pricing includes a base delivery charge plus a per-stop fee and per-unit fee. This structure aligns pricing with actual cost drivers.
Urban vs Rural Stop Economics
Urban routes have lower drive time between stops but higher congestion and parking costs. Rural routes have long drive distances between stops but faster unloading. Compare cost per stop between urban and rural routes to balance workloads and set appropriate pricing for each.
Sources & Methodology
Last updated:
Frequently Asked Questions
It varies widely by industry. Parcel delivery: $3-$10/stop. Beverage DSD: $15-$40/stop. Food service delivery: $30-$80/stop. The variation depends on drop size, time at stop, and vehicle type.
Add more stops per route (increases density), reduce time per stop (better dock scheduling, pre-sorted loads), optimize route sequence (less drive time between stops), and right-size vehicles to match delivery volume. Use this calculator to model different scenarios and find the best approach.
Yes, for accurate route profitability analysis. Include a proportional share of dispatch, management, IT systems, and insurance costs. The fully loaded cost per stop reveals true profitability.
There's an optimal range. Too few stops means high fixed cost per stop. Too many stops risks overtime, missed time windows, and driver fatigue. Most routes optimize between 15-35 stops depending on the operation.
Cost per stop covers the route cost divided by stops. Cost per delivery may include additional handling, inside delivery, or special services at that specific stop. A stop may include multiple deliveries (e.g., multiple orders to one location).
Failed deliveries are extremely costly because you incur the stop cost without generating revenue. A 5% failure rate adds roughly 5% to effective cost per successful stop. Reducing failed deliveries through customer communication and flexible windows is crucial.
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