How to Calculate Unit Prices: €/kg, €/L – The Complete Guide 2026

Since 2022, Germany only allows €/kg and €/L. Learn how to calculate correctly, avoid common mistakes, and stay clear of fines up to €25,000.

Reading time: 10 minutes
Last updated: January 2026
For: Small retailers, international shop owners, convenience store operators in Germany

Key Takeaways

• ✅ Since May 28, 2022, Germany only permits €/kg and €/L as unit prices
• ❌ €/100g and €/100ml are BANNED – even if you have old labels
• 💰 Incorrect unit prices can result in fines from €1,000 to €10,000
• 🇩🇪 Germany has the strictest regulation in all of Europe

Table of Contents

1. What Is Unit Pricing?
2. The 2022 Reform: What Changed?
3. The Calculation Formula
4. 10 Practical Calculation Examples
5. Which Products Need Unit Pricing?
6. Exceptions: When Is It Not Required?
7. The 7 Most Common Mistakes
8. Germany vs. Europe: Comparison
9. Checklist for Your Shop
10. How PriceLabel Helps

What Is Unit Pricing?

Unit price (German: Grundpreis) shows the price per unit of measurement – typically per kilogram (€/kg) or per liter (€/L).

Why Does Unit Pricing Exist?

Imagine you're standing in front of a shelf and see:

• Nutella 450g for €4.49
• Nutella 750g for €6.99

Which one is cheaper? Without unit pricing, you have to do mental math. With unit pricing, you see immediately:

• 450g: €9.98/kg
• 750g: €9.32/kg

The larger pack is cheaper per kilogram.

Unit pricing makes prices comparable – that's its only purpose.

Legal Basis

Unit pricing is regulated in the Preisangabenverordnung (PAngV) – the Price Indication Regulation:

The 2022 Reform: What Changed?

On May 28, 2022, an important change took effect that many retailers still don't know about:

Before (until May 2022)

Permitted:
✅ €/kg and €/L
✅ €/100g and €/100ml

Now (since May 2022)

ONLY permitted:
✅ €/kg and €/L

BANNED:
❌ €/100g
❌ €/100ml
❌ All other units

Why This Change?

The EU wanted to improve comparability. If one product shows €2.25/100g and another €19.90/kg – which is cheaper? Hard to compare.

With uniform €/kg, it's easier: - €2.25/100g = €22.50/kg - €19.90/kg = €19.90/kg

Now you can see immediately: The second product is cheaper.

Germany: The Strictest Regulation in Europe

Germany is the only major EU country that completely banned €/100g.

The Calculation Formula

For Products by Weight (€/kg)

Unit price (€/kg) = (Selling price ÷ Weight in grams) × 1000

Or simpler:

Unit price (€/kg) = Selling price ÷ Weight in kilograms

For Products by Volume (€/L)

Unit price (€/L) = (Selling price ÷ Volume in milliliters) × 1000

Or simpler:

Unit price (€/L) = Selling price ÷ Volume in liters

Rounding Rules

Unit prices must be rounded to two decimal places (commercial rounding):

10 Practical Calculation Examples

Example 1: Standard Food Item

Product: Pasta 500g
Selling price: €1.89

Unit price = (1.89 ÷ 500) × 1000 = €3.78/kg

On the label:
┌────────────────────────┐
│ Pasta 500g             │
│ €1.89                  │
│ Unit price: €3.78/kg   │
└────────────────────────┘

Example 2: Beverage

Product: Orange juice 1.5L
Selling price: €2.49

Unit price = 2.49 ÷ 1.5 = €1.66/L

On the label:
┌────────────────────────┐
│ Orange juice 1.5L      │
│ €2.49                  │
│ Unit price: €1.66/L    │
└────────────────────────┘

Example 3: Small Spice

Product: Oregano 12g
Selling price: €1.49

Unit price = (1.49 ÷ 12) × 1000 = €124.17/kg

⚠️ BUT: Products under 50g are often exempt!
Check if an exception applies.

Example 4: Multi-packs

Product: 6-pack yogurt (6 × 125g = 750g)
Selling price: €3.59

Unit price = (3.59 ÷ 750) × 1000 = €4.79/kg

On the label:
┌─────────────────────────┐
│ Yogurt 6×125g (750g)    │
│ €3.59                   │
│ Unit price: €4.79/kg    │
└─────────────────────────┘

Example 5: Canned Goods (Watch the Drained Weight!)

Product: Kidney beans 400g can
Drained weight: 240g
Selling price: €1.29

⚠️ For canned goods, use the DRAINED WEIGHT!

Unit price = (1.29 ÷ 240) × 1000 = €5.38/kg

WRONG: (1.29 ÷ 400) × 1000 = €3.23/kg ❌

Example 6: Laundry Detergent

Product: Liquid detergent 2L (40 washes)
Selling price: €8.99

Unit price = 8.99 ÷ 2 = €4.50/L

Note: The "number of washes" is irrelevant for unit pricing.
Only volume counts.

Example 7: Cheese from the Counter

Product: Gouda (loose piece)
Weight: 347g
Selling price: €4.16

Unit price = (4.16 ÷ 347) × 1000 = €11.99/kg

For loose goods, the unit price must
be displayed at the shelf or counter.

Example 8: Bread

Product: Whole wheat bread 500g
Selling price: €2.79

Unit price = (2.79 ÷ 500) × 1000 = €5.58/kg

Note: Bread is NOT exempt from unit pricing,
even though many bakeries don't show it.

Example 9: Cosmetics

Product: Hand cream 75ml
Selling price: €3.49

Unit price = (3.49 ÷ 75) × 1000 = €46.53/L

On the label:
┌────────────────────────┐
│ Hand cream 75ml        │
│ €3.49                  │
│ Unit price: €46.53/L   │
└────────────────────────┘

Example 10: Candy

Product: Haribo Gummy Bears 200g
Selling price: €1.29

Unit price = (1.29 ÷ 200) × 1000 = €6.45/kg

On the label:
┌──────────────────────────┐
│ Haribo Gummy Bears 200g  │
│ €1.29                    │
│ Unit price: €6.45/kg     │
└──────────────────────────┘

Which Products Need Unit Pricing?

Unit Price Required ✅

Unit Price NOT Required ❌

Exceptions: When Is It Not Required?

The 50g/50ml Rule

Products with a net weight under 50g or net volume under 50ml are exempt from unit pricing requirements.

Examples of exempt products:

But beware: This exemption only applies if the product is normally sold in this small quantity. If you deliberately make small packages to avoid unit pricing, it may be considered circumvention.

Single-Unit Sales

If a product is sold as a single unit (not by weight), no unit price is needed:

Other Exceptions

• Medications (have their own pricing rules)
• Cigarettes (priced per piece, not by weight)
• Magazines/Books (not quantity goods)

The 7 Most Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using €/100g Instead of €/kg

The problem:
Many old labels still show €/100g. This has been illegal since May 2022.

The solution:
Convert all unit prices to €/kg.

Old (illegal): €2.25/100g
New (correct): €22.50/kg

Conversion formula:

€/kg = €/100g × 10

Mistake 2: Using Total Weight Instead of Drained Weight for Canned Goods

The problem:
For canned goods (beans, corn, olives), the total weight including liquid is often used.

The solution:
Always use the drained weight (net weight without liquid).

Can of corn 340g (Drained weight 285g)
Price: €1.19

Wrong: (1.19 ÷ 340) × 1000 = €3.50/kg ❌
Correct: (1.19 ÷ 285) × 1000 = €4.18/kg ✅

Mistake 3: Not Updating the Unit Price

The problem:
The selling price changes, but the unit price on the label stays the same.

The solution:
Recalculate and update the unit price with every price change.

Mistake 4: Wrong Rounding

The problem:
Unit prices are rounded incorrectly (e.g., always rounding down).

The solution:
Commercial rounding: round up from .005, round down below.

€9.974 → €9.97 (round down)
€9.975 → €9.98 (round up)
€9.976 → €9.98 (round up)

Mistake 5: No Unit Price at All

The problem:
Many small shop owners don't know unit pricing is mandatory.

The solution:
Every product over 50g/50ml needs a unit price. No small business exemption in Germany!

Mistake 6: Unit Price in the Wrong Place

The problem:
The unit price is somewhere on the shelf, but not next to the product.

The solution:
The unit price must be clearly associated with the product – directly on the price tag.

Mistake 7: Unreadable Unit Price

The problem:
Unit price is too small, faded, or hidden.

The solution:
The unit price must be easily readable. Font size should be large enough to read from normal distance.

Germany vs. Europe: Comparison

Why Is Germany So Strict?

Germany decided in 2022 to implement the EU directive particularly strictly ("Gold-Plating"). This means:

What This Means for You

If you import labels from other countries or have international suppliers:

• ⚠️ Labels with €/100g are illegal in Germany
• ⚠️ "Small" shops must also show unit prices
• ⚠️ Software from other EU countries must be adapted for Germany

Checklist for Your Shop

Print this checklist and review your shop:

✅ Unit Price Check

• [ ] All products over 50g/50ml have a unit price
• [ ] All unit prices are in €/kg or €/L (not €/100g!)
• [ ] Unit price is calculated correctly
• [ ] Canned goods: Drained weight used
• [ ] Unit price is easily readable
• [ ] Unit price is directly next to selling price
• [ ] Unit price is updated when price changes

✅ Check Special Products

• [ ] Loose goods (fruit, vegetables): €/kg visible on shelf
• [ ] Canned goods: Drained weight used
• [ ] Beverages: €/L calculated correctly
• [ ] Cosmetics: €/L (not €/100ml!)
• [ ] Confectionery: €/kg shown

✅ Remove Old Labels

• [ ] No labels with €/100g still in use
• [ ] No labels with €/100ml still in use
• [ ] Old templates have been updated

How PriceLabel Helps

You've learned a lot about unit pricing. But who has time to calculate for every product?

PriceLabel does it automatically.

What PriceLabel Does for You:

How It Works:

1. Scan barcode (3 seconds)
2. Enter price
3. Print – done!

The label automatically includes: - Product name - Selling price - Correct unit price in €/kg or €/L - All legally required information

Try It Free Now

During beta, PriceLabel is 100% free.

→ Start Free Now

No credit card. No commitment. Just try it.

Summary

Unit pricing is simpler than it looks:

1. Remember the formula: Price ÷ Weight (in kg) = Unit price
2. Only use €/kg and €/L – never €/100g or €/100ml
3. For canned goods: Use drained weight
4. When prices change: Update unit price
5. When in doubt: PriceLabel calculates it correctly

Remember: Germany has no exemption for small businesses. A 20m² corner shop must show correct unit prices just like a REWE supermarket.

Fine for missing or incorrect unit prices: €1,000 to €10,000.

Do it right – or let PriceLabel do it for you.

Additional Resources

• The Complete PAngV Guide for Retailers 2026
• Official PAngV Regulation (German Federal Ministry of Justice)
• EU Directive 98/6/EC (EUR-Lex)

About the Author

This article was prepared by the PriceLabel team based on analysis of EU directives, German regulations, and real retailer experiences.

Questions? Contact us: [email protected]

We respond in English! Don't hesitate to reach out.

Last updated: January 2026
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.