Restaurants · Problem-solving calculator
Menu Price Calculator
Estimate a selling price from portion food cost and a target food-cost percentage.
- Free to use
- Runs in your browser
- Level B · Industry formula
- Last reviewed 2026-08-16
Calculator guide
What this calculator helps you solve
Estimate a selling price from portion food cost and a target food-cost percentage.
Inputs explained
- Portion food cost ($) — enter the value that applies to your operation or scenario.
- Target food cost (%) — enter the value that applies to your operation or scenario.
Formula and methodology
Worked example
A $4.80 portion cost at a 30% target food-cost percentage implies a menu price of $16.00.
How to interpret the result
The result is a pricing starting point. Compare it with labor, overhead, competitive positioning, perceived value, and desired contribution margin before setting the final price.
What to keep in mind
- Target food-cost percentages vary by concept, menu mix, and operating model.
- This calculator does not include sales tax unless your entered food cost or pricing policy explicitly accounts for it.
Review approach
This calculator uses deterministic arithmetic and performs the calculation locally in your browser. Its value comes from combining multiple operational inputs into a decision-oriented result rather than returning a one-line conversion.
Review standard: Level B · Industry formula. How calculator reviews work.
Frequently asked questions
What decision can this calculator support?
The result is a pricing starting point. Compare it with labor, overhead, competitive positioning, perceived value, and desired contribution margin before setting the final price.
How is the result calculated?
Menu Price = Portion Food Cost ÷ (Target Food Cost % ÷ 100).
Are the assumptions universal?
No. Operational, regulatory, technical, and industry assumptions vary. Use values that apply to your situation and verify professional or regulatory requirements where relevant.
Does CalculateMeasure store the values I enter?
The calculation runs in your browser and does not require sending the entered calculator values to a server to produce the result.