Delivery Cost Calculator
Calculate per-delivery cost
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Delivery Cost Calculator turns the numbers behind calculating per-delivery cost into an instant, step-by-step result. You supply Distance (km), Fuel Cost ($) and Driver Wage ($) to Delivery Cost; the answer follows at once. Every Delivery Cost answer can be reproduced by hand. Delivery Cost replaces guesswork. Nothing is uploaded while Delivery Cost works, and the figures stay put. Delivery Cost sits in the Auto & Transport section next to free online delivery cost calculator and delivery cost calculator. Delivery Cost shows formula, assumptions and result together. Start with Delivery Cost; the first number takes seconds.
What the defaults give
Fuel $5, driver $10 and vehicle $3 add to $18.00 per delivery.
Over 20 km that is $0.90 a kilometre.
The formula
Cost per delivery = fuel + driver wage + vehicle cost
Cost per km = total ÷ distance
It is a sum of three direct costs, with nothing allocated for overhead, packaging, failed deliveries or the return trip. That is deliberate: it answers what one run costs in cash, which is the number a driver or small operator can actually observe.
Worked examples
20 km, $5 + $10 + $3 → $18.00, $0.90/km
10 km, $3 + $8 + $2 → $13.00, $1.30/km
50 km, $12 + $15 + $6 → $33.00, $0.66/km
5 km, $2 + $10 + $3 → $15.00, $3.00/km
100 km, $25 + $20 + $10 → $55.00, $0.55/km
20 km with a $5 vehicle cost → $20.00, $1.00/km
Short runs are where the money goes
The wage is a fixed cost per trip, so distance is the only part that scales. Halving the distance from 20 km to 10 km does not halve the cost, because the driver still has to be paid; the per-km figure nearly doubles. That is why delivery businesses charge a base fee plus a distance rate rather than a pure per-kilometre price.
The same arithmetic explains why batching helps. Three orders on one 30 km loop cost one wage and one vehicle cost instead of three, and the per-drop cost can fall by more than half even though fuel rises slightly with the extra weight and stops.
Costs outside the three inputs
Vehicle cost here is a placeholder for wear, insurance, depreciation and maintenance per trip. A realistic figure for a small van is more like $0.30 to $0.50 per kilometre all-in, which at 20 km is $6 to $10 rather than $3. Add the return leg if the driver comes back empty, and add waiting time at the door if the customer is slow to answer.
Failed deliveries and redeliveries are the largest hidden line in most operations — a redelivery doubles the whole cost of that order. Packaging, payment fees, and the platform commission sit outside the per-delivery figure and usually dwarf it, so use this number for route and pricing decisions rather than as a fully loaded cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 20 km delivery cost?
$18 at $5 of fuel, $10 of driver wage and $3 of vehicle cost, which is 90 cents a kilometre.
Why does the per-km cost rise for short trips?
The wage is fixed per trip, so a shorter distance spreads the same driver cost over fewer kilometres. A 5 km delivery at $15 costs $3.00/km.
Does the calculator include the return trip?
No. Enter the total distance driven, including the way back, if the vehicle returns empty. Fuelling and wages for that leg are real costs.
What should vehicle cost include?
Wear, insurance, depreciation and maintenance per trip. A small van is closer to $0.30–$0.50 per km, or $6–$10 on a 20 km run, not $3.
How do failed deliveries affect the cost?
A redelivery doubles that order cost, because the full wage, fuel and vehicle cost are paid twice with no extra revenue.
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