MenuPricer·Food Cost CalculatorAI Pricing Tool →
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Food Cost Calculator
for Restaurants

Last reviewed: July 28, 2026

Calculate your food cost percentage, find the ideal menu price, and see your profit margin — instantly.

Enter Your Numbers

Total cost of all ingredients for one serving

30%
15% (high margin)50% (low margin)

Fill this to check if your current price is profitable

Suggested Menu Price

At 30% food cost · % gross margin

Your Food Cost %

Enter selling price above

Gross Margin

Enter price above

Formula Used

Price = $cost ÷ 0.30 = ?

🤖 Get AI-powered pricing analysis →

AI gives you 3 pricing tiers + delivery markup + menu copy

Food Cost % Benchmarks by Restaurant Type

Industry averages — use these to check if your costs are competitive.

Restaurant TypeTypical RangeSweet SpotStatus
Fine Dining25–35%28%
Casual Dining28–35%32%
Fast Casual25–32%28%
Food Truck25–35%30%
Bakery / Café25–35%30%
Pizza / Pasta28–38%33%

How to Calculate Food Cost Percentage

1

List all ingredients

Write down every ingredient in one serving of the dish — including garnishes, sauces, and oils. Don't forget packaging if it's for delivery.

2

Calculate total ingredient cost

For each ingredient: (Amount used ÷ Package size) × Package cost. Add them all up to get your total ingredient cost per serving.

3

Apply the formula

Food Cost % = (Ingredient Cost ÷ Menu Price) × 100. Target 28–35% for most restaurant types. Divide cost by target % to get your ideal price.

The Two Key Formulas

Check if your price is right

Food Cost % =

Ingredient Cost ÷ Price × 100

Find the right price

Menu Price =

Ingredient Cost ÷ Target Cost %

Frequently Asked Questions

Want AI to do all this for you?

Just type your dish name — MenuPricer estimates ingredients, calculates costs, and gives you 3 pricing tiers with menu copy. In 30 seconds.

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