Free Food Cost Calculator
Calculate your food cost percentage instantly. No signup required. Enter ingredients, see your margins, optimize your menu pricing.
Calculate Food Cost
Enter your ingredients and menu price to see your margins
What do you charge customers for this item?
Total Cost
$0.00
Food Cost %
—
Profit/Item
$0.00
Target @ 30%
$0.00
Add ingredients to see cost breakdown
Industry Benchmarks
Excellent
Healthy
Review
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Learn MoreUnderstanding Food Cost Percentage
What is Food Cost Percentage?
Food cost percentage is the ratio of your ingredient costs to your menu price. It tells you how much of each dollar you earn goes toward raw ingredients. The formula is simple: (Total Ingredient Cost ÷ Menu Price) × 100 = Food Cost %
Industry Benchmarks
- Under 28%:Excellent margins. You have room to absorb cost increases or invest in quality.
- 28-35%:Industry standard for most restaurants. Healthy and sustainable.
- Over 35%:Consider adjusting menu prices, portion sizes, or finding more cost-effective ingredients.
Tips to Improve Food Cost
- Track portion sizes - Inconsistent portions can silently destroy margins
- Review vendor prices regularly - Compare quotes and negotiate
- Reduce waste - Track and minimize spoilage and overproduction
- Engineer your menu - Promote high-margin items more prominently
- Use seasonal ingredients - They're often cheaper and fresher