Food Cost Percentage Calculator
Calculate plate cost as a percentage of menu price.
Inputs
$
$
oz
%
Results
Food Cost %
28.1%
Ideal Menu Price$15.00
Gross Profit Per Plate$11.50
Gross Margin71.9%
Markup255.6%
Daily Gross Profit$920.00
Monthly Gross Profit$27,600.00
Cost Per Ounce$0.56
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the ingredient cost ($) and menu price ($) for the dish.
- Set portion size and number of daily covers to estimate daily usage.
- Enter your target food cost % (typically 28-32% for full-service restaurants).
- Review actual food cost %, ideal menu price at target %, gross profit, and gross margin.
- If actual cost exceeds target, increase price or reduce portion/ingredient cost.
How the result changes with Menu Price
| Menu Price | Food Cost % |
|---|---|
| $1,000.00 | 0.5% |
| $3,500.00 | 0.1% |
| $6,500.00 | 0.1% |
| $9,000.00 | 0.1% |
What each input means
- Ingredient Cost
- Total cost of ingredients per plate.
- Menu Price
- Selling price on the menu.
- Portion Size
- Portion size in ounces for cost per ounce.
- Daily Covers
- Average number of this dish served per day.
- Target Food Cost %
- Target food cost percentage (industry standard: 28-35%).
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersIngredient Cost = 4.5, Menu Price = 16, Portion Size = 8, Daily Covers = 80 = 5 input(s) provided
- Calculate Food Cost %Food Cost %28.1 = 28.1
- Calculate Ideal Menu PriceIdeal Menu Price15 = $15
- Calculate Gross Profit Per PlateGross Profit Per Plate11.5 = $11.5
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
Related Calculators
The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.
Restaurant & Hospitality
Menu Engineering Calculator
Categorize menu items as Stars, Plow Horses, Puzzles, or Dogs.
Restaurant & HospitalityBeverage Cost Calculator
Calculate pour cost percentage and markup for drinks.
Food TruckFood Truck Menu Pricing Calculator
Item pricing from food cost percentage and overhead.
BakeryBakery Ingredient Cost Calculator
Calculate the total ingredient cost for a bakery recipe batch. Get per-unit cost and food cost percentage to price your products profitably.
Restaurant & HospitalityFood Waste Tracking Calculator
Track food waste percentage, cost, and potential savings.
More in Business & Entrepreneurship.