Shrinkflation Calculator
Same price, smaller package. Calculate the real hidden price increase.
oz
oz
$
Size Reduction
-10%
Real Price Increase
+11.1%
Old $/unit: $0.200
New $/unit: $0.222
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Why -10% Size = +11.1% Price (Not 10%)
This is the exact same math as investment recovery: losing 10% and gaining 10% don't cancel out.
Price increase = Size reduction ÷ (1 − Size reduction)
10% ÷ 0.90 = 11.1%
10% ÷ 0.90 = 11.1%
When a product shrinks by 10%, you're getting 90% of the original. To get the same amount, you'd need to buy 1/0.90 = 1.111 packages — that's 11.1% more spending.
Common Shrinkflation Examples
| Product | Old Size | New Size | Hidden Price Hike |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cereal box | 20 oz | 18 oz | +11.1% |
| Ice cream | 64 oz | 48 oz | +33.3% |
| Toilet paper | 500 sheets | 400 sheets | +25.0% |
| Chip bag | 10 oz | 8.5 oz | +17.6% |
| Candy bar | 2.1 oz | 1.86 oz | +12.9% |
The Mirror of "10% Off"
Shrinkflation is the mirror image of a discount. When you get "10% off," you save 10%. But when a company gives you "10% less product," they're effectively charging you 11.1% more. This asymmetry is the same reason a 10% investment loss requires an 11.1% gain to break even.
Frequently Asked Questions
Because you're dividing the same price by a smaller amount. $4 ÷ 20oz = $0.20/oz. $4 ÷ 18oz = $0.222/oz. The increase from $0.20 to $0.222 is 11.1%, not 10%.
Divide the old size by the new size, subtract 1, then multiply by 100. Example: (20 ÷ 18 − 1) × 100 = 11.1% price increase per unit.
Ice cream (64oz→48oz, +33%), toilet paper (500→400 sheets, +25%), and snack foods are the biggest offenders. Cereal boxes commonly shrink 10-15%.
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