Diagrams of Cost Curves

  • Total Fixed Cost (TFC) – costs independent of output, e.g. paying for factory
  • Marginal cost (MC) – the cost of producing an extra unit of output.
  • Total variable cost (TVC) = cost involved in producing more units, which in this case is the cost of employing workers.
  • Average Variable Cost AVC = Total variable cost / quantity produced
  • Total cost TC = Total variable cost (VC) + total fixed cost (FC)
  • Average Total Cost ATC = Total cost / quantity

Costs in the short run

Short run cost curves tend to be U shaped because of diminishing returns.

In the short run, capital is fixed. After a certain point, increasing extra workers leads to declining productivity. Therefore, as you employ more workers the marginal cost increases.

Diagram of Marginal Cost 


Because the short run marginal cost curve is sloped like this, mathematically the average cost curve will be U shaped. Initially, average costs fall. But, when marginal cost is above the average cost, then average cost starts to rise.

Marginal cost always passes through the lowest point of the average cost curve.

Average Cost Curves


  • ATC (Average Total Cost) = Total Cost / quantity
  • AVC (Average Variable Cost) = Variable cost / Quantity
  • AFC (Average Fixed Cost) = Fixed cost / Quantity



  • Fixed costs (FC)  remain constant. Therefore the more you produce, the lower the average fixed costs will be.
  • To work out the marginal cost, you just see how much TC has increased by.
  • For example, the third unit sees TC increase from 450 to 500, therefore, the increase in MC is 50.
  • The 12th unit sees total cost rise from 1,700 to 2,400, so the marginal cost is 700

Average fixed costs


Fixed, variable and total cost curves

fixed-variable-total-costs Total cost (TC) = Variable cost (VC) + fixed costs (FC)

Long Run Cost Curves

The long-run cost curves are u shaped for different reasons. It is due to economies of scale and diseconomies of scale. If a firm has high fixed costs, increasing output will lead to lower average costs.


However, after a certain output, a firm may experience diseconomies of scale. This occurs where increased output leads to higher average costs. For example, in a big firm, it is more difficult to communicate and coordinate workers.

Diagram for Economies and Diseconomies of Scale 


Note, however, not all firms will experience diseconomies of scale. It is possible the LRAC could just be downward sloping.


25 thoughts on “Diagrams of Cost Curves”

  1. Marginal fixed cost is the total fixed cost at one unit of output and is nil for all higher units of output. Average fixed cost is also the total fixed cost at one unit of output but declines in the form of a hyperbola for all higher units of output. Marginal variable costs are the same as average variable costs. Cost accountants have been quicker than economists to recognise this. The U shaped cost curve with its declining marginal curve is economically unrealistic as well as being superfluous. All these marginal and average curves can be shown on the same coordinates diagram.

  2. kindly help with:
    show how diminishing marginal physical product id related to the shape of short-run marginal and average cost curves

  3. great and helpful…..but was confused on which diagram to use in answering my question….the section of a firms short-run marginal cost curve above the average cost curve is taken as its supply curve; show the validity of this statement in a diagram

  4. Old people who rely on the encouragement of others to fight are not strong; those who are encouraged by others to struggle are simply cowards


Leave a comment

Item added to cart.
0 items - £0.00