How to Calculate Your CPS (Cost Per Smash) — The Complete Guide

By Roxy | June 1, 2026 | 8 min read

You want to know your number. Good. The first step to financial awareness in dating is actually running the math. Here's exactly how to calculate your Cost Per Smash, what to include, and what your result means.

The CPS Formula

CPS = Total Dating Expenses / Total Sexual Encounters

Time period: Use the same timeframe for both numbers (monthly, quarterly, yearly, or lifetime).

Step-by-Step Calculation

Step 1: List All Dating Expenses

Include everything you spend because of dating:

Dates: Dinners, drinks, coffee, activities, movies, concerts
Dating apps: Tinder Gold/Platinum, Hinge Preferred, Bumble Premium
Transportation: Uber/Lyft to dates, gas, parking
Gifts: Flowers, birthday presents, "just because" gifts
Grooming: Haircuts, cologne, skincare (dating-motivated portion)
Wardrobe: Clothes bought specifically for dates
Travel: Weekend trips, hotels, vacation together
Miscellaneous: Condoms, plan B, emergency supplies

Step 2: Pick Your Time Period

Choose a consistent window:

Monthly CPS: Good for tracking trends
Quarterly CPS: Smooths out dry spells
Yearly CPS: Best overall picture
Lifetime CPS: The ultimate number (but harder to calculate)

Step 3: Count Your Encounters

Be honest. This number only works if both sides of the equation are accurate. Count unique sexual encounters within your chosen time period.

Step 4: Divide

Total expenses / total encounters = your CPS. That's your number. Own it.

Example Calculations

Monthly Tracker (January 2026)

3 dates at bars: $180
1 nice dinner: $120
Hinge Preferred: $35
Uber to dates: $45
New shirt for Friday: $60
Total: $440
Encounters: 2
CPS: $220 (Average tier)

Yearly Overview (2025)

Dating apps: $420/year
Dates (food/drinks): $3,600
Gifts: $800
Transportation: $500
Grooming upgrades: $300
Weekend trip: $600
Total: $6,220
Encounters: 15
CPS: $415 (Expensive tier)

Common Mistakes

Forgetting subscription costs. That $30/month dating app is $360/year.
Not counting dates that went nowhere. Those still cost money.
Inflating encounter count. Be real with yourself.
Mixing time periods. Don't use yearly expenses with monthly encounters.
Excluding "soft" costs. That gym membership you got to look better on dates? Counts.

What About Relationships?

In a relationship, your CPS typically drops dramatically because the encounter count goes up while expenses stabilize. A guy spending $400/month on his girlfriend but sleeping together 8 times has a CPS of $50. Elite tier.

Unless you're in a dead bedroom situation. Then your CPS skyrockets and you've got bigger problems than math.

Skip the Math. Use the Calculator.

The CPS Calculator does all of this automatically. Input your expenses, get your tier, track over time.

Calculate My CPS →