About Food Cost Calculator
Commercial culinary food cost percentage and menu pricing calculator. Calculate target food cost percentage (28-32% industry benchmark), suggested menu selling prices, gross profit margin %, and contribution dollar margins per plate.
Key Capabilities & Features
- Official commercial food cost formula: (Cost of Food / Menu Price) × 100
- Optimizes recommended menu selling prices based on target food cost % (15% to 50%)
- Calculates gross profit margin percentage and contribution profit dollars per dish
- Essential for restaurant owners, caterers, food trucks, and bakery businesses
How to Use Food Cost Calculator
Enter Plate Cost
Input your raw ingredient food cost per individual portion.
Select Target Food Cost %
Set your target percentage (industry standard is 28% to 32%).
Set Menu Price
Review suggested menu selling price, gross margin %, and dollar profit per plate.
Privacy & In-Browser Execution Guarantee
100% client-side calculation. Your financial metrics never leave your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ideal restaurant food cost percentage?
Most profitable restaurants maintain a food cost percentage between 28% and 32%, allowing the remaining 68-72% to cover labor, rent, overhead, and net profit.
What is contribution margin?
Contribution margin is the selling price minus the food cost (Price - Cost). It represents the actual cash dollars each dish contributes toward fixed operating expenses.