What does 20 x 10's mean? Medicine pack sizes explained
Last reviewed 22 October 2026
Short answer: "20 x 10's" means a pack of 20 strips with 10 tablets in each strip, so 200 tablets in total. The first number is how many strips (or blisters), and the second is how many tablets are in each. Knowing the total lets you work out the price per tablet, which is the fair way to compare packs.
Why pack sizes confuse people
Medicines are sold in many pack sizes. A shop may sell a single strip, a box, or a full carton. DRAP price notifications often list the price of the large trade pack, for example a pack of 200 tablets, while a customer usually buys one strip. If you only look at the number on the price, it is easy to think two products cost very different amounts when the packs are simply different sizes.
How to read the pack notation
| On the pack | What it means | Total units |
|---|---|---|
| 10's | One strip or blister with 10 tablets or capsules | 10 |
| 3 x 10's | 3 strips with 10 tablets each | 30 |
| 10 x 10's | 10 strips with 10 tablets each | 100 |
| 20 x 10's | 20 strips with 10 tablets each | 200 |
| 120ml | A bottle of syrup or suspension holding 120 millilitres | 120 ml |
The rule is simple: multiply the two numbers. For a liquid, the volume is already the total.
How to work out the price per tablet
Divide the total price by the total number of tablets.
Example 1: a full pack
If a 20 x 10's pack costs Rs 534, there are 200 tablets. Rs 534 divided by 200 is Rs 2.67 per tablet. This is the figure DRAP lists for Paracetamol 500mg in S.R.O. 207(I)/2023, as shown in our Paracetamol price guide.
Example 2: a single strip
If a shop sells one strip of 10 tablets for Rs 30, divide 30 by 10. That is Rs 3.00 per tablet. Compared with the Rs 2.67 above, the strip works out slightly dearer, but whether that is allowed depends on the maximum retail price printed on the strip and on the product.
Example 3: comparing two packs
Pack A has 20 tablets for Rs 100. Pack B has 30 tablets for Rs 120. Pack A costs Rs 5 per tablet, and Pack B costs Rs 4 per tablet. Pack B is the better value per tablet, even though it costs more in total.
Syrups and liquids: price per millilitre
For liquid medicines, divide the price by the volume. A 120ml bottle at Rs 120 costs Rs 1.00 per ml, and a 60ml bottle at Rs 70 costs about Rs 1.17 per ml. Only compare liquids that have the same strength, such as the same amount of medicine in every 5ml, because a stronger syrup is not the same product.
Rules to follow when you compare
- Same active ingredient.
- Same strength, for example 500mg against 500mg.
- Same dosage form, for example tablets against tablets.
- Same unit: price per tablet, per capsule or per millilitre.
If any of these differ, the comparison is not fair. Our guide to brand and generic medicines explains why this matters.
Don't forget the printed price
The price on the pack, the maximum retail price, is the most a seller may charge for that pack. Check that it is clear and has not been covered or changed. See how to read a medicine label, and how DRAP sets medicine prices for how the maximum is decided.
Frequently asked questions
Is a bigger pack always cheaper per tablet?
Often, but not always. Work out the price per tablet for each pack and compare. Also think about whether you will use the whole pack before the expiry date.
What does the "s" in "10's" mean?
It is just a way of writing "10 units" on the pack. "10's" means 10 tablets or capsules in that strip.
Why do official price lists show large packs?
Official notifications and price lists often give the price of the trade pack that manufacturers supply to distributors. Customers usually buy smaller parts of it, so divide to get the price per tablet.
Sources
- DRAP, S.R.O. 207(I)/2023, for the 20 x 10's paracetamol pack and its price.
- DRAP, PharmaPrice Index, for pack sizes and prices of registered products.