# Food cost calculator

> Free restaurant food cost calculator. Add a recipe's ingredients to get plate cost and food cost percentage, or work out food cost % for a week or month from inventory.

Source: https://platofy.app/tools/food-cost-calculator

Work out what a dish costs to make and what share of its menu price goes to ingredients. Or calculate food cost % for a whole week or month from your inventory counts.

## Frequently asked questions

### How do you calculate food cost percentage?

For one dish: ingredient cost per plate ÷ menu price × 100. For a period: (beginning inventory + purchases − ending inventory) ÷ food sales × 100.

### What is a good food cost percentage for a restaurant?

Most restaurants aim for 28–35%. Pizzerias and cafés often run lower, steakhouses and seafood places higher. What matters is the trend: a rise of a few points usually means waste, portioning or supplier prices.

### Should I include waste and trim in plate cost?

Yes. Use the cost of the usable portion: if a 10 lb case yields 8 lb after trimming, divide the case price by 8, not 10. A small buffer of 3–5% for waste keeps plate costs honest.

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