Restaurants · Problem-solving calculator
Portion Cost Calculator
Estimate the usable food cost of one portion from purchase cost, package quantity, yield, and portion size.
- Free to use
- Runs in your browser
- Level B · Industry formula
- Last reviewed 2026-08-17
Calculator guide
What this calculator helps you solve
Estimate the usable food cost of one portion from purchase cost, package quantity, yield, and portion size.
Inputs explained
- Purchase cost ($) — enter the value that applies to your operation or scenario.
- Purchase quantity in usable units before yield — enter the value that applies to your operation or scenario.
- Usable yield (%) — enter the value that applies to your operation or scenario.
- Portion size in the same units — enter the value that applies to your operation or scenario.
Formula and methodology
Worked example
A $42 purchase containing 160 ounces at an 85% usable yield provides 136 usable ounces. A 6-ounce portion costs about $1.85.
How to interpret the result
Use the portion cost as a building block for menu pricing, plate cost, food-cost percentage, contribution margin, and recipe profitability.
What to keep in mind
- Purchase quantity and portion size must use the same unit.
- Yield should reflect trimming, cooking, or other loss relevant to the product.
- Supplier prices and actual yields should be refreshed when purchasing conditions change.
Review approach
This calculator uses deterministic arithmetic and performs the calculation locally in your browser. Its value comes from combining 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?
Use the portion cost as a building block for menu pricing, plate cost, food-cost percentage, contribution margin, and recipe profitability.
How is the result calculated?
Portion Cost = Purchase Cost ÷ (Purchase Quantity × Yield %) × Portion Size.
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.