Why is the share capped at 100 percent?

The share describes part of the SKU list, so it cannot exceed the list itself. A stored value above 100 would price plate work for SKUs that do not exist.

What does the SKUs needing new plates row show?

The count behind the percentage. At 25 SKUs and a 75 percent share it is 18.75, which tells you how many plate sets the share implies before the cost is summed.

Does the fixed design cost change with the SKU count?

No. It is charged once for the refresh. That is why cost per SKU falls as the same fixed dollars spread across a longer SKU list.

How do I treat SKUs that reuse their old plates?

Set the share to the portion of SKUs that need new plates. The model charges one blended prepress and plate rate to that share, so estimate prepress-only work inside the rate rather than outside it.

Toys, Sporting Goods & Recreational Products calculator

Packaging Graphics Change Cost Calculator

Budget an artwork refresh across a line of toy or sporting goods SKUs. Enter the SKU count, per-SKU prepress cost, the share needing new plates and the fixed design cost; the cap holds the share at 100 percent.

What this calculator does

Total and per-SKU cost of a packaging graphics refresh, the plate count, and what remains of the budget.

Formula used

Total graphics change cost = SKUs to update × prepress cost per SKU × share needing new plates ÷ 100 + fixed design and approval cost
Cost per SKU = total graphics change cost ÷ SKUs to update
Variable graphics cost = SKUs to update × prepress cost per SKU × share ÷ 100
SKUs needing new plates = SKUs to update × share ÷ 100
Budget remaining = graphics change budget − total graphics change cost

Inputs explained

SKUs to Update: SKUs in the artwork refresh, from the line list.
Prepress and Plate Cost per SKU: Prepress and plate cost for one SKU's packaging.
Share Needing New Plates: Share of SKUs that need new plates, in percent.
Fixed Design and Approval Cost: Design and approval cost charged once to the refresh.
Graphics Change Budget: Budget the refresh must stay inside, from finance.

How to use the result

Best suited to budgeting an artwork refresh, testing two SKUs before a relaunch, comparing a mixed refresh with a full one.
Offset cartons and flexo cards at very different plate costs should be split into separate runs. Reshoots, proofing rounds and freight are outside the entered prepress cost.

Common questions

Why is the share capped at 100 percent? The share describes part of the SKU list, so it cannot exceed the list itself. A stored value above 100 would price plate work for SKUs that do not exist.
What does the SKUs needing new plates row show? The count behind the percentage. At 25 SKUs and a 75 percent share it is 18.75, which tells you how many plate sets the share implies before the cost is summed.
Does the fixed design cost change with the SKU count? No. It is charged once for the refresh. That is why cost per SKU falls as the same fixed dollars spread across a longer SKU list.
How do I treat SKUs that reuse their old plates? Set the share to the portion of SKUs that need new plates. The model charges one blended prepress and plate rate to that share, so estimate prepress-only work inside the rate rather than outside it.

Last reviewed 2026-10-01.