Food Cost Percentage Calculator
Track food cost against sales and target.
Enter your values
Enter the opening inventory in $.
Enter the purchases in $.
Enter the closing inventory in $.
Enter the food sales in $.
Enter the target food cost in %.
Enter the labour cost in $.
Results update instantly as you type — no submit needed. Your values are remembered on this device, and the shareable link reopens the calculator with exactly these numbers.
- Food cost percentage
- 26.43%
- Cost of goods sold
- $22,200.00
- Variance to target
- -3.57%
- Money left on the table
- $0.00
- Gross profit on food
- $61,800.00
- Prime cost
- 55%
- Inventory turnover
- 2.44× this period
Quick answer
Food cost % = (opening stock + purchases − closing stock) ÷ food sales × 100, which captures waste and theft that recipe costing alone misses.
Food cost % = COGS ÷ food sales × 100
At a glance
| What it does | Track food cost against sales and target. |
|---|---|
| Category | Business |
| Inputs needed | Opening inventory, Purchases, Closing inventory, Food sales, Target food cost, Labour cost |
| Main output | Food cost percentage |
| Formula | Food cost % = COGS ÷ food sales × 100 |
| Cost | Free — no sign-up, no download |
How to use the Food Cost Percentage Calculator
- 1Count opening and closing inventory at cost.
- 2Add all food purchases for the period.
- 3Enter food sales and your target percentage.
Inputs explained
- Opening inventory($)
- Enter the opening inventory in $.
- Purchases($)
- Enter the purchases in $.
- Closing inventory($)
- Enter the closing inventory in $.
- Food sales($)
- Enter the food sales in $.
- Target food cost(%)
- Enter the target food cost in %.
- Labour cost($)
- Enter the labour cost in $.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Opening inventory9400 $
- Purchases21600 $
- Closing inventory8800 $
- Food sales84000 $
- Target food cost30 %
- Labour cost24000 $
Results
- Food cost percentage26.43%
- Cost of goods sold$22,200.00
- Variance to target-3.57%
- Money left on the table$0.00
- Gross profit on food$61,800.00
- Prime cost55%
- Inventory turnover2.44× this period
Frequently asked questions
Why is my actual food cost above my recipe cost?
The gap is waste, over-portioning, comps and theft. A 2–4 point gap is normal; more than that means portion control needs attention.
What is prime cost?
Food plus labour as a share of sales. Under 60–65% is the usual survival line for a full-service restaurant.
What do I need to enter into the Food Cost Percentage Calculator?
Just 6 values: opening inventory, purchases, closing inventory, food sales, target food cost, labour cost. Every field starts with a realistic example, so you can change one number at a time and watch the result update instantly.
How does the Food Cost Percentage Calculator work out the answer?
Food cost % = (opening stock + purchases − closing stock) ÷ food sales × 100, which captures waste and theft that recipe costing alone misses. It applies the formula Food cost % = COGS ÷ food sales × 100 and shows the working so you can check each step by hand.
Is the Food Cost Percentage Calculator free, and do I need an account?
It is completely free with no sign-up, no download and no usage limit. Everything is calculated in your browser, so the numbers you type never leave your device.
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.