Enter your ingredient cost and target food cost percentage for any dish — get the ideal menu price instantly, plus your margin and blended food cost across your whole menu.
Fill in the ingredient (food) cost for a dish and your target food cost percentage.
The calculator instantly shows the suggested menu price and your gross margin.
Add every dish to see your blended food cost % and total margin across the menu.
A real calculator in your browser — no spreadsheet, no account.
Type a cost and target %, see the ideal menu price update in real time.
Add every dish on your menu and see the total picture, not just one item.
Compare your target % against typical ranges for your type of venue.
See your total ingredient cost, total revenue and average food cost % at a glance.
Your numbers stay in your browser, so you can come back and keep editing.
Print a clean summary of your menu costing in one click.
Typical ideal food cost % by venue type — use these as a starting point, not a rule.
| Food cost % | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fine dining | 28–35% | Higher perceived value allows a higher food cost share. |
| Casual dining | 28–32% | The most common range for a full-service restaurant. |
| Fast casual / QSR | 25–30% | Volume and speed offset a leaner margin per dish. |
| Bar & beverages | 18–24% | Drinks typically carry a much lower food cost than dishes. |
| Coffee & bakery | 12–20% | Low ingredient cost per item, high margin by design. |
Yes. It's completely free to use, with no account, email or signup required.
Suggested price = ingredient cost ÷ target food cost %. For example, a €3 ingredient cost at a 30% target gives a €10 suggested price.
Most full-service restaurants target 28–32%, though it varies by venue type — see the benchmarks above.
No — this calculator focuses on ingredient (food) cost only, the most common starting point for menu pricing. Always factor in labor, rent and other overhead separately.
Your numbers are stored only in your own browser (not sent to a server), so they stay private and are there when you come back.
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