Free Recipe Cost & Menu Price Calculator
Add your ingredient costs to get the total recipe cost, cost per plate, and a suggested menu price based on your target food cost percentage.
1. Add ingredients
| Ingredient | Quantity | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total recipe cost | $0.00 |
No ingredients yet. Add your first one above.
2. Servings & target food cost %
3. Try your own menu price
Frequently asked questions
What food cost percentage should I target for a menu item?
Most restaurants target a food cost percentage between 28% and 35% for a typical entree; bar and dessert items often run lower, and some specialty dishes run higher. This calculator defaults to 30%, a common industry benchmark, but you can enter any target percentage that fits your menu and concept.
How does this calculator turn ingredient costs into a suggested menu price?
It adds up every ingredient cost to get the total recipe cost, divides that by the number of servings to get the cost per plate, then divides the cost per plate by your target food cost percentage written as a decimal. For example, a $3.00 cost per plate at a 30% target gives a suggested price of $3.00 / 0.30 = $10.00.
Can I check the food cost percentage for a price I choose myself instead of the suggested price?
Yes. Type your own price into the menu price field and the tool instantly recalculates the resulting food cost percentage as cost per plate divided by that price, so you can compare your own pricing decision against your target before finalizing the menu.