Interactive tool
Cobot ROI Calculator
Enter your labor cost, the hours a cobot would automate per day, and the robot price. Get your payback period, annual savings, and 5-year ROI instantly.
Your inputs
Select a robot (or enter custom price)
Assumptions
- Robot replaces one full-time equivalent worker for the hours entered
- No integration or training costs included
- Savings begin in month 1 (immediate deployment assumed)
- No residual value for robot at end of lifespan
Results
Payback period
3 months
Break-even in year 1
Annual labor savings
$50,000
vs. equivalent headcount
Annual net savings
$49,500
After maintenance costs
5-year net savings
$238,651
After all costs
5-year ROI
+2103%
Return on total investment
Cumulative savings vs. costs (10 years)
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Industry benchmarks
Cobot payback benchmarks: what to expect
How long does it take for a cobot to pay for itself?
The industry benchmark for cobot payback is 12–24 months in single-shift operation. Running two shifts roughly halves that — 6–12 months is common — because the robot cost is fixed while labor savings double. Payback beyond 36 months usually signals the cell is under-utilized or over-specified.
How do you calculate cobot ROI?
Payback period = total investment ÷ monthly labor savings. Total investment is the robot price plus end-of-arm tooling, integration, and training (typically 50–100% on top of the arm itself). Monthly savings are the loaded hourly labor cost × hours automated per month, minus maintenance (~10% of robot price per year).
How much does a cobot cost?
Chinese-made cobots run about $6,000–$25,000 depending on payload and reach (e.g. FAIRINO FR5 at $6,999, UFACTORY xArm 6 at $8,849, DOBOT CR5A at $24,320), while comparable Western models such as the Universal Robots UR7e — the 2026 replacement for the UR5e — list from about $38,400. See our cobot pricing guide for the full verified table.
Which applications give the fastest cobot ROI?
Palletizing, machine tending, and welding consistently show the fastest payback because they replace full shifts of repetitive labor. Cobot palletizers in dual-shift operation frequently reach ROI in under 12 months; welding cobots also benefit from the scarcity and high cost of skilled welders.
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