---
title: "Food Cost Percentage Calculator for Menu Items | MCC"
description: "Enter the ingredient cost of a recipe, the servings and your menu price to see cost per serving, food cost percentage and the price for a target."
url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/menu-item-food-cost-percentage-calculator"
---

Free tool

# Menu item food cost percentage calculator

## Overview

See what a dish costs per serving and what to charge for a food cost you want.

[![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)

Total ingredient cost for the batch ($)

Servings the batch makes

Current menu price per serving ($, optional)

Food cost you want (% of price, optional)

Excel workbook · $24

### Recipe Costing and Menu Pricing Workbook

Enter what you pay for ingredients and what each recipe uses, then see the cost per portion and the price that reaches your target food cost.

[See what is inside ($24)](/toolkits/recipe-costing-menu-pricing-workbook) [Free sample](/toolkits/recipe-costing-menu-pricing-workbook#free-starter)14-day full refund

Share

## Put this tool on your own site

Free to use. Paste this where you want it to appear. It runs in the visitor's browser, so nothing they enter is sent to us.

[See every calculator you can embed](/embed)

How it works

## How it works

**Cost per serving = total ingredient cost divided by servings.** **Food cost percentage = cost per serving divided by menu price.** **Price for a target = cost per serving divided by the target percentage.** Include every ingredient, even oil, garnish and the cost of trim you throw away.

Want a second pair of eyes on your books? [A free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check).

FAQ

## About this calculator

**What is a normal food cost percentage?**

It varies by kind of restaurant and menu item. Compare against your own records over time rather than a single number from elsewhere.

**What leaves out of the cost most often?**

Oil, seasoning, garnish, sides, takeout packaging and waste.

**Is food cost the same as profit?**

No. Labor, rent, utilities and other costs still come out of what is left.

**Is anything saved?**

No. The math runs in your browser and nothing you enter is sent to us.

**Is this tax or financial advice?**

No. It is a calculator for general information. Check the numbers against your own records, and ask an accountant before you act on them.

Related: [contribution margin calculator](/bookkeeping/contribution-margin-calculator), [economic order quantity calculator](/bookkeeping/economic-order-quantity-calculator), [recipe costing menu pricing workbook](/toolkits/recipe-costing-menu-pricing-workbook). See [all free tools](/free-tools). More free tools: [Rent Roll and Late Notices](/bookkeeping/rent-roll-late-notice-python-script), [NJ Payroll Checker](/bookkeeping/nj-payroll-checker-python-script), [W-9 Tracker & Request Emails](/bookkeeping/w9-tracker-python-script), or [see all free tools](/free-tools).

Free

### Month-End Close Checklist (PDF)

The five-day close, one page to print. Enter your email and we send a link to confirm it is yours, then the download. We may email you about new toolkits, and every email has an unsubscribe link.

General information, not tax or legal advice. [How we write and check our tools](/editorial-standards).

Excel workbook

### Recipe Costing and Menu Pricing Workbook

Enter what you pay for ingredients and what each recipe uses, then see the cost per portion and the price that reaches your target food cost.

[See what is inside ($24)](/toolkits/recipe-costing-menu-pricing-workbook) [Try the free starter](/toolkits/recipe-costing-menu-pricing-workbook#free-starter)

Also in the [Food Business Bundle](/toolkits/food-business-bundle): 4 products for $75 instead of $101 separately.

## Want your books and numbers handled?

[Free health check](/bookkeeping/health-check)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)