How the multibuy estimate works

The calculator compares the normal price for the quantity entered with the selected offer rule. It then shows the estimated offer total, saving and effective price per item.

Estimate only: real checkout totals can depend on selected products, cheapest-free rules, loyalty prices, substitutions, excluded items and exact mix-and-match conditions.

Only buy what you need

A lower effective price is not always a saving if the offer makes you buy more than you will use.

Cheapest item rules

Some offers make the cheapest item free. This calculator assumes identical item prices, so mixed-price baskets need extra checking.

Compare with unit price

For different pack sizes, check the unit price as well as the offer total.

Reading a multibuy result

Multibuy offers are easiest to check when the calculator separates normal total, offer total, saving and effective price per item. A 3 for 2 offer on identical £4 items has a normal total of £12, an offer total of £8 and an effective price of £2.67 each.

The result is less reliable for mixed-price baskets where the cheapest item is discounted, because the saving depends on the exact combination. In that case, run a rough check for the typical item price, then compare the real checkout total before ordering.

Stocking up is not always saving

If the offer makes you buy more than you can use, the wasted items can outweigh the headline discount.

Compare the same size

A multibuy on small packs may still be more expensive than a larger single pack. Use the unit price calculator when pack sizes differ.

Watch loyalty-only offers

Some shelf labels show a member price, app price or coupon price. Enter the price that applies to your basket and account.

When the shelf label needs a second look

Offers such as buy one get one free, three for two, two for a fixed price and multibuy bundles can all produce different effective prices. A deal can also be weaker than it first looks if the normal price was recently high, if the offer applies only to selected flavours, or if a larger pack has a lower everyday unit price.

For mixed baskets, check which item is discounted. Many retailers discount the cheapest eligible item, so the saving may be smaller than discounting the item you had in mind.

Multibuy examples to test

For buy one get one free, compare the offer total with buying only the quantity you need. For three for two, check the effective price per item and then ask whether all three items will actually be used. For fixed-price bundles, compare the bundle against the best individual prices, not only the shelf label saving.

Mixed-price offers need extra care because the discount often applies to the cheapest eligible item. If the basket contains different products or sizes, use the calculator as a rough guide and then check the real checkout discount before paying.