calculate the total cost

Meaning

This phrase means to add up all individual expenses, fees, and overheads associated with a project, purchase, or operation to find the final sum. It is used in budgeting, procurement, and project planning to ensure there are no unexpected expenditures. The tone is practical and objective.

Examples

• Don't forget to include shipping and taxes when you calculate the total cost.

  Don't forget to include shipping and taxes when you calculate the total cost.

• We need to calculate the total cost of ownership before buying these servers.

  We need to calculate the total cost of ownership before buying these servers.

• The client asked us to calculate the total cost of the renovation project.

  The client asked us to calculate the total cost of the renovation project.

• It took us three days to calculate the total cost because of the fluctuating exchange rates.

  It took us three days to calculate the total cost because of the fluctuating exchange rates.

• Once we calculate the total cost, we can present the budget proposal to the board.

  Once we calculate the total cost, we can present the budget proposal to the board.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We should calculate the whole cost.

  ✓ We should calculate the total cost.

  'Total cost' is the standard business collocation. Using 'whole cost' sounds unnatural in a professional context.

• ✗ Please calculate the total costs of the project.

  ✓ Please calculate the total cost of the project.

  While 'costs' is sometimes pluralized, 'total cost' (singular) is the conventional business term used when referring to the final sum.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Make sure to include labor and materials when you ___.

  💡 Find the final sum of all expenses.

  Show answer

  calculate the total cost

• Before signing the contract, we must ___ of the software license.

  💡 Figure out the complete amount we will pay.

  Show answer

  calculate the total cost