Skip to content

Free max-buy calculator for watch dealers — no signup needed. Open it

Watch Trading ToolkitWatch Trading Toolkit

Tool

Max buy calculator

Set your expected sale price and target profit. The number you can pay works itself out.

This tool does the arithmetic. For the reasoning behind the number, read How much should a watch dealer pay for a watch?

Enter the price you expect to get. We start with typical fees you can change.

Free. No signup needed to use the calculator.

Methodology

How the number is worked out

  1. 1Start from the saleThe price you expect the watch to sell for through the channel you pick.
  2. 2Take out selling costsChannel fee, payment processing, shipping out, and insurance leave your net proceeds.
  3. 3Hold back your profitYour target, as a margin on the sale or a markup on cost.
  4. 4Take out ownership costsPrep, shipping in, tax on the purchase, and carrying cost while you hold it. What's left is your max buy, or in consignment mode, the most you can offer.

Where the fee presets come from

Every preset is an editable estimate. Check your current rate before you rely on it.

Common questions

What's the difference between a margin and a markup?

A margin is profit as a share of the sale price; a markup is profit as a share of what you paid. The same percentage is less money as a markup than as a margin, so the calculator asks which one you mean.

Where do the fee presets come from?

Each marketplace preset is taken from that platform's own published fee page and shows the date it was last checked. They're still estimates: fees change, and your plan, store subscription, or processor can differ. Every fee field stays editable.

Why does the Chrono24 preset say private-seller rate?

Chrono24 publishes a flat commission for private sellers. Professional dealers pay a monthly package plus a per-watch commission set by Chrono24's own calculator, so a dealer should enter their actual rate using the Custom channel.

What is carrying cost?

What your money costs while it's tied up in a watch: interest if you buy on credit, or the next deal you can't do if you buy with cash. Enter an annual rate and how long you expect to hold the watch, and the calculator takes it out before your max buy.

Does it work for consignment?

Yes. Switch to consignment and it works out the most you can promise the consignor at your target profit. Consignment skips the costs of owning the watch, such as shipping in and tax on a purchase.

Is my deal saved anywhere?

Saved deals stay in your own browser; there's no account and nothing is sent to us. The page address also updates as you type, so you can copy the link to share or bookmark a calculation.

Run a blog, forum or shop page for dealers? Put this calculator on your site — free, and nothing to install.