Engineering tool
Refractory Cost per Tonne Calculator
Compare two refractory grades on what they actually cost per tonne of product, not on price per kilogram — the comparison that decides which supplier is cheaper.
Grade A — cost per tonne —
Grade B — cost per tonne —
Cheaper in use —
Difference per tonne —
Annual difference —
This compares direct refractory cost only. Downtime and quality effects sit outside it.
Formulas used
- Refractory cost per tonne = specific consumption (kg/t) × price (per kg)
- Annual difference = |cost A − cost B| × annual output (t)
Practical notes
- Specific consumption is the figure your own production records give you: kilograms of refractory per tonne of product over a full campaign.
- A grade that costs 30% more per kilogram but lasts 40% longer is the cheaper grade. Price per kilogram cannot show you that.
Frequently asked questions
Why not simply compare price per kilogram?
Because two grades are rarely consumed at the same rate. What you pay per tonne of steel or cement is consumption multiplied by price, and consumption often differs more between grades than price does.
Where do I find my specific consumption?
From your own records: total refractory used over a campaign divided by tonnes produced in that campaign. Use a full campaign, not a single shift.