Free plate cost calculator
Enter each ingredient’s pack cost, pack size, and how much the dish uses. The calculator shows cost per plate, food cost %, and the price that hits your target. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere: it runs in your browser.
How to use it
- Pack cost and pack size come from the invoice: a 10 lb case at $52.80 is pack cost 52.80, pack size 10.
- Amount used must be in the same unit as the pack size. If the case is in pounds, a 6 oz patty is 0.375.
- Yield % is the usable share after trimming or cooking. Use 100 for anything with no waste. See the yield and trim guide.
- Portions is for batch recipes: a soup that makes 20 bowls.
Where a calculator stops
This works for one dish. A real menu has batch sauces inside dishes, seasoning inside batches, recipes measured in cups for ingredients bought by the pound, and pack prices that change on every invoice. MenuForge handles nested batches and unit conversions, and recosts every recipe when a price changes. Prefer a spreadsheet? Get the free template. New to the math? Read how to calculate food cost percentage.
Questions
How do I calculate the cost of a plate?
For each ingredient, divide the pack cost by the pack size, multiply by the amount used, and divide by the usable yield. Add the lines together for the plate cost.
Does this calculator save my recipes?
No. It runs entirely in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.
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