unit price
B2Formal/Business
Definition
Meaning
The cost for one individual item or one standard measure of a product.
The price assigned to a single unit of quantity, used for comparison, costing, and billing, especially when items are sold in multiples or bulk.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A key metric in retail, procurement, and accounting. It implies a division of a total price by quantity to find the cost of one. Not typically used for services.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., 'litre' vs. 'liter'). The concept is identical.
Connotations
Neutral, technical, and commercial in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both business and consumer contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The unit price [is/stands at] [amount][Calculate/Compare] the unit price [of something][Amount] [per/is the unit price for] [item]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Price per head (for food/events)”
- “Damage per second/DPS (gaming analogy)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Essential for procurement, cost analysis, and supplier contracts. Example: 'The tender requires bidders to specify the unit price for all listed components.'
Academic
Used in economics, business studies, and mathematics. Example: 'The study analysed how unit price visibility affects consumer purchasing behaviour.'
Everyday
Common in shopping, especially on supermarket shelf labels. Example: 'Check the unit price to see which large packet is actually better value.'
Technical
Used in engineering, manufacturing (cost per part), and logistics (cost per pallet).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The software can unit-price all line items automatically.
- We need to unit-price this new component for the catalogue.
American English
- The system will unit-price each SKU in the batch.
- Vendors are required to unit-price their submissions.
adjective
British English
- The unit-price comparison chart is very helpful.
- We lack unit-price data for these imports.
American English
- The unit-price information is on the shelf tag.
- A unit-price analysis revealed cost savings.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The unit price is on the label.
- Milk has a unit price per litre.
- Always check the unit price when you shop.
- The unit price for apples is £2.50 per kilogram.
- To compare value, you must calculate the unit price for each product size.
- The contract stipulates a maximum unit price for raw materials.
- Strategic sourcing aims to drive down the unit price while maintaining quality standards.
- Economies of scale allowed the manufacturer to reduce the unit price significantly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of UNIT PRICE as the PRICE for one UNIT. Like a price tag on a single Lego brick, not the whole box.
Conceptual Metaphor
PRICE IS A MEASURE (per unit of measure). BREAKING DOWN A WHOLE INTO PARTS FOR COMPARISON.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводится как "единичная цена" (редко используется).
- Корректный перевод — "цена за единицу (товара)" или "цена за штуку".
- Не путать с "оптовой ценой" (wholesale price) — unit price может быть и оптовой, и розничной.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'unit price' for the price of a service (e.g., a haircut).
- Confusing 'unit price' with 'total price'.
- Writing 'price unit' (incorrect word order).
- Forgetting to specify the unit (e.g., per kg, per litre, each).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a unit price?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are completely synonymous and interchangeable.
On supermarket shelf labels (usually in small print, showing price per kg/litre), in invoices, and in procurement documents.
Rarely. It is predominantly for tangible goods or measurable commodities. For services, terms like 'hourly rate', 'fee per project', or 'cost per session' are more common.
Divide the total price of the item(s) by the quantity (number of items, weight, volume). For example: £6 for 2kg of rice → Unit Price = £6 / 2kg = £3 per kg.