What the ACCC does

What the ACCC can't do

  • We don’t resolve individual complaints about unit pricing.

On this page

About unit pricing

Businesses that sell groceries often show a unit price alongside the total selling price of a product. Unit pricing helps consumers compare prices and find the best value for money.

A unit price shows how much the product costs using a standard unit of measurement.

The standard unit of measurement used depends on the type of product. Units may be by weight, volume, length, area or number.

Some examples of standard units are:

  • Beef: price per kilogram
  • Laundry detergent: price per litre
  • Avocados: price per avocado.

Example of unit prices

In this example, the first container of laundry detergent is better value. Although the selling price is more, the price per litre is less.

Images shows price label for laundry detergent.

Businesses that must display unit prices

There are rules about which businesses must display unit prices, where, how, and for what products. These rules are contained in the Unit Pricing Code.

Most supermarkets, large grocery stores, and online grocery stores must display unit pricing, in store, online and in advertising.

Smaller stores and stores that don’t sell a wide range of groceries don't have to display unit pricing, but they can choose to.

Products that are unit priced

Unit prices must be shown for most everyday grocery items like food, drinks, cleaning and personal products.

Some products, including hardware, appliances and clothing, don't need to display a unit price. These exemptions are listed in the Unit Pricing Code.

When 2 or more items are being offered

Unit pricing must be displayed where 2 or more of the same grocery items are offered for a single price. 

Images shows price label for 125g of sardines.

Bundles of different types of grocery items don't require unit pricing.

Images shows price label for dental kit

Unit pricing is not required where similar items of different sizes and weights are sold at a single price.

Images shows price label for lipsticks

We also have a video explaining how unit pricing works in practice.

 

Next steps if a business doesn’t display unit prices correctly

Contact the business

If you believe a business is not following the rules about unit pricing, your first step is to contact the business to explain the problem.

If the business doesn’t resolve the problem, there are more steps you can take.

Get help contacting a business or taking a problem further

Report the issue with unit pricing to the ACCC

Anyone can make a report to the ACCC about an issue with unit pricing.

We use these reports to identify issues that need investigation, and to inform our education and compliance work.

Make a report to the ACCC