Pricing Tool

Recipe Cost Calculator

Find out exactly what each dish costs to make. Add your ingredients, set your portions, and instantly see your total recipe cost, cost per portion, and a suggested selling price for free.

Calculate your recipe costs

Add each ingredient with its quantity and unit cost. Enter your portions to see the cost per serving, then optionally set a target food cost percentage to get a suggested selling price.
Add each ingredient with the quantity you use in the recipe and what it costs per unit. The calculator totals your recipe cost and breaks it down per portion automatically.
Ingredient 1

Ingredient name, e.g. Flour, Sugar, Eggs

Amount used in the recipe

Price per single unit

Enter how many servings your recipe yields to get the cost per portion. Optionally set a target food cost percentage to get a suggested selling price, or enter an existing price to check your real food cost.

No. of servings this recipe yields

Optional, e.g. 30 for a 30% target

Optional, check on your existing price

Total recipe cost
Sum of all ingredient quantities multiplied by their unit cost.
Cost per portion
Total recipe cost divided by the number of portions.
Tips
Most restaurants aim for a food cost between 25% and 35%. Use this as a benchmark when entering your target food cost percentage—lower targets mean higher prices but may reduce demand.

Know your true dish costs

Whether you are costing a single signature dish or your entire menu, get the exact numbers you need to price your menu confidently.

Track Every Ingredient

Add as many ingredients as your recipe needs. Enter the quantity and unit cost for each to see an accurate total.

Cost Per Portion

Enter your recipe yield and instantly see the exact food cost for each individual plate.

Suggested Selling Price

Set a target food cost percentage and the calculator recommends a price that hits your margin goal.

Check Any Price

Enter an existing price to reveal your real food cost percentage and see if your current markup is sustainable.

Cost your recipes accurately

Accurate recipe costing is the foundation of a profitable kitchen. These practices help you capture every hidden expense.

Write Down Every Ingredient

Even minor items like cooking oil, salt, and garnishes add up. Track everything to get a true picture of your costs.

Account for Yield and Waste

Ingredients shrink during prep and cooking. Buy by raw weight, but calculate costs based on the usable portion.

Standardize Your Recipes

Use identical measurements every time. Consistent prep makes your financial calculations predictable and reliable.

Review Costs Regularly

Supplier prices fluctuate constantly. Recalculate your dishes every few months to protect your margins from cost creep.

Cost in Batches

For sauces, stocks, or dough prepped in bulk, calculate the total batch cost first, then divide by the final portions.

Compare Dish Profitability

Look at your recipes side by side to identify your high-margin stars and your low-margin losers.

Common recipe costing mistakes

Small calculation errors compound quickly across a menu. Avoid these common pitfalls that lead to hidden losses.

Forgetting Small Ingredients

Spices, oils, and garnishes seem cheap, but they quietly eat into your profit when left off the spreadsheet.

Using Purchase Price Only

Buying a whole wholesale cut doesn’t mean it all hits the plate. Trim, bones, and shrinkage reduce your true yield.

Eyeballing Portions

Inconsistent portioning means a dish costs differently every time it leaves the kitchen, breaking your math.

Ignoring Batch Leftovers

If a batch makes more than you realistically sell before spoilage, divide costs by actual portions served, not total prepped.

Not Updating Supplier Prices

Ingredient costs drift over time. Relying on year-old invoices means your calculated margins won’t match reality.

Confusing Cost with Price

Food cost is what you pay the supplier; price is what the guest pays you. Conflating the two ruins your target margins.

Turn your recipes into a
QR menu with Nommy

Nommy turns your dishes and prices into a professional website with digital menus and QR codes. Start free—no credit card required.
Get Started

Frequently
Asked Questions

Common questions about recipe costing, ingredient expenses, and how to use this calculator for your dishes.
Ask AI

Not sure if Nommy is right for your business?

Just ask your favorite AI chatbot. Let ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Grok, or Perplexity explain how Nommy can help your food business get online and get more customers.