How to calculate food cost per serving
4 min read · 2026-09-03
Short answer: Food cost per serving is the total cost of a batch divided by the number of servings it makes. If a pot of chilli costs 18.00 to make and yields 12 bowls, the food cost per serving is 1.50.
The formula
Add up the ingredient cost of the whole batch, then divide by the number of servings.
Food cost per serving = total batch cost ÷ number of servings
Portion size is part of the cost
If your recipe says 12 portions but staff serve 10, every portion costs 20% more than you planned. Use scoops, ladles and scales so the number of servings is real.
Include packaging when you sell to take away
For meal prep and delivery, the container is part of each serving. Add it after dividing the batch, because packaging is already a per-serving cost.