Price per milliliter: when a large size or value set truly pays off
,
by Verpakkingdeals.nl
5 min reading time
The cheapest bottle is rarely the cheapest choice. Here's how to convert sizes, concentrates, and value packs to price per milliliter — and when smaller is still better.
Two bottles side-by-side on a product page: one costs €7.95, the other €10.00. The cheaper one seems the logical choice, until you consider the content. The €7.95 bottle contains 100 ml, while the €10.00 one contains 250 ml. Per milliliter, the more expensive product is almost half the price.
This article is not about what a product does – we deliberately leave that out of consideration. It's about the calculations beforehand: when a large size or a value pack truly saves you money, and when it's primarily just a big bottle you won't finish.
Convert everything to price per milliliter
One calculation, always the same: price divided by content. Do this for the sizes you are considering, and the picture often changes.
What stands out: the difference between two sizes of the same type of product can easily be a factor of two or three. And for two products that look similar — two scrubs, two shower products — the price on the button tells you almost nothing. The 500-gram jar of scrub is more than twice as cheap per gram than the 400-gram jar, even though it appears €4.00 cheaper on the page.
Where the calculation ends: shelf life after opening
A large size is only cheaper if you finish it. On the packaging of cosmetic products, there is often a symbol of an open jar with a number and the letter M inside – for example, 12M. That number indicates how many months the product is intended to be used after opening. If there's 12M on a 500-gram jar and you use it twice a month, you are effectively buying a small jar for the price of a large one.
The practical rule of thumb: first estimate how often you use something and how much you need per use. If you estimate using less than half of the content within that period, choose the smaller size – even if the price per milliliter is higher.
Two things that help with this: store bottles upright and at room temperature, and keep the cap clean so you can close it properly. A bottle lying half-open in a drawer rarely reaches the end of its period.
Concentrate is the ultimate example
The biggest jump in price per milliliter isn't made with a larger bottle, but with a product you mix yourself. Massage powder for 7.5 liters of massage gel costs €12.95. Based on the indicated yield, that's about 0.17 cents per milliliter – an order of magnitude lower than any ready-to-use product in the table above.
However, there are trade-offs. You have to mix it, you need a clean bottle or jar to store it in, and mixed product generally lasts shorter than an unopened package. Therefore, mix small quantities at a time instead of the entire bag at once. For regular users, it's the cheapest route; for occasional use, it's primarily extra work.
Value packs: calculate per item, not per pack
With sets, the calculation changes slightly: you divide the price by the number of products, and then you ask yourself how many of those products you will actually use.
On paper, you save more than four euros per bottle. But that's only true if you use all eight. If you only use three, you pay €23.32 per used product, and buying them individually would have been cheaper. The question with a set is not "how much discount do I get", but "how much of this will I actually use from the box".
When a small size is the better choice
There are three situations in which you deliberately choose the more expensive size per milliliter:
Trying it out. A product you don't know yet, you buy in a small size. A €4.95 mistake is a mistake; a €19.95 mistake will sit in the cupboard for years as a reproach.
Taking it with you. For travel, there are size limits for carry-on luggage, and a small bottle is simply more practical. A 150 ml fragrance mist for €9.95 fits in a toiletry bag; a 500 gram jar does not.
Multiple users or shared space. Smaller packages that you replace more often remain clearer and tidier than one large jar that everyone dips into.
Checklist before ordering
Divide price by content and compare the result, not the amount on the button.
Check if there is a number with an M on the packaging and estimate your usage within that period.
Consider concentrate only if you use it regularly AND have a clean bottle to mix it in.
For a set, divide the price by the number of products you will actually use.
New product? Small size, even if it's more expensive per milliliter.
You can view all sizes side by side in Erotic Drugstore, Massage Oil, Intimate Hygiene and Body Care. If the content of a product is not clearly stated on the page or you doubt which size suits your use? Email your question to info@verpakkingdeals.nl, and we will look up the specifications for you. All items in these categories are intended for adults aged 18 and over.
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports, and with switches
· 3 min reading time
Choosing a USB hub for working from home: 2.0 or 3.0, how many ports and with switchesYour desk needs three USB devices, but your laptop only has two ports. Or...
Power outages in autumn: emergency supplies you'll actually use
· 2 min reading time
Autumn Power Outages: Emergency Supplies You'll Actually Use October to December. Heating isn't in full swing yet, but the nights are getting long and cold. If a power outage strikes...
Choosing a power bank: capacity, charging speed, and weight compared
· 2 min reading time
Choosing a Power Bank: Capacity, Charging Speed, and Weight Compared Your phone dies when you're out and about. The classic emergency solution is a power bank. But what capacity do...
