The purchasing question
A bottle price may exclude its closure, seal, label or shipment packaging. A slightly cheaper bottle can produce a more expensive complete pack when the required closure costs more. Confirm the bill of materials and quote boundary before choosing a normalized comparison basis.
Calculation method
Complete material cost per pack is the sum of included component unit costs. Multiply by the target pack quantity and add separately billed order-level costs. If components have different purchasing yields or minimum quantities, use actual quantities bought rather than assuming exactly one purchased component for every accepted pack.
Worked example
An illustrative bottle at €0.20 plus a €0.04 closure costs €0.24 per complete bottle-and-cap set, or €240 per thousand. A second bottle at €0.18 requiring a €0.07 closure costs €250 per thousand. For 50,000 sets, totals are €12,000 and €12,500 before labels, freight and losses.
The first set is cheaper on this stated two-component basis. Confirm neck and closure compatibility through the supplier specification; price arithmetic cannot qualify that fit. If one quote already includes a cap, do not add it again.
Checks before using the result
- List exactly which components each quote includes.
- Confirm closure compatibility separately.
- Keep freight and quantity rounding visible.
Common questions
Can I compare bottle prices without caps?
Yes for a bottle-only purchasing decision, but label that boundary. For a finished packaging budget, include the required closure and other components.