What is portion cost?

Portion cost is the ingredient cost of a single serving. It's the building block you sum across every component to get a dish's full plate cost.

How do I calculate cost per portion from a batch recipe?

Divide the total cost of the batch by the number of portions it yields. Count real portions the batch actually produced, not a theoretical number.

Why does portion cost drift over time?

Portion drift happens when serving sizes creep above spec without anyone deciding to change it. It's one of the most common invisible sources of rising food cost.

MenuPricer·Portion Cost CalculatorAI Pricing Tool →

Free Tool · No Sign-up Required

Portion Cost Calculator
Batch Cost to Cost Per Serving

Last reviewed: July 28, 2026

Enter batch cost and portions produced to get cost per serving — and the price it takes to hit your target food cost.

Enter Your Numbers

Total Batch Cost ($)

Cost of every ingredient in the full batch, as actually made.

Portions Produced

Count real portions the batch produced, not a theoretical number.

Target Food Cost %

Formula

Cost per Portion = Batch Cost ÷ Portions Produced

Cost per Portion

—

Suggested Menu Price

—

At 30% target food cost

🤖 Cost a full dish, not just one component →

Frequently Asked Questions

Want AI to price your whole menu?

MenuPricer generates 3 pricing tiers (Budget · Standard · Premium) for any dish — with food cost, margin, and menu copy. 30 seconds per dish.

Try MenuPricer Free →

No credit card · No sign-up required

Portion Cost CalculatorBatch Cost to Cost Per Serving

Enter Your Numbers

Frequently Asked Questions

Want AI to price your whole menu?

Portion Cost Calculator
Batch Cost to Cost Per Serving