What ROAS Do I Need to Break Even?
With a 50% gross margin, you need at least a 2x ROAS to break even on ad spend — anything above that contributes to profit.
How to use this tool
- Enter revenue attributed to ads, total ad spend and gross margin in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your roas and the full breakdown beneath it.
Your break-even ROAS depends on your gross margin — a 50% margin means you need to earn $2 in revenue for every $1 in ad spend just to cover costs.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a good ROAS?
- A common benchmark is 4:1 ($4 revenue per $1 spent), but the required ROAS depends on your gross margin. At 25% margin you need ROAS ≥ 4x to break even; at 50% margin you need ROAS ≥ 2x.
- What is the difference between ROAS and ROI?
- ROAS = revenue / ad spend (gross ratio). ROI = (revenue - cost) / cost × 100% (net return). ROAS ignores the cost of goods, while ROI accounts for it. Use ROAS to optimise campaigns; use ROI to assess true profitability.