Free Food Cost Calculator for Excel
Reduce expenses with a free cost calculator
- See where each dollar goes
- Calculate total expenses quickly
- Customizable and ready-to-use
Food Cost Percentage Template.xlsx
How to use our food cost calculator
1. List current food, beverage, and overhead costs.
2. Add estimated monthly purchases.
3. Enter total revenue for the month.
4. See food cost percentage.
What is a food cost template?
This food cost percentage template helps you see exactly how much you spend on ingredients each month. With our Excel-based tool, it’s easier than ever to spot overspending and keep more profit in your pocket.
Why do restaurants need a food costing calculator?
A food cost calculator shows exactly how much you’re spending on each dish. This way, you can adjust menu prices and make more profit. It’s a must-have for restaurants that want sustainable cost control.
That is just one piece of the puzzle
A single place to track all costs
Track all your food costs, overhead, and sales data in one place. Get a clear view of how well your restaurant’s cost strategy is performing and make smart decisions.
Instant food cost calculation
Just add your numbers, and the spreadsheet calculates your food cost percentage automatically. No complex math or manual calculations needed.
Actual costs to projected spending comparison
If you forecast costs but don’t compare them to actual numbers, you miss out on big insights. Our template makes it easy to stay on track.
Better cost control with monthly food cost calculation
Review your food cost calculation every month to see changes in spending. Regular check-ins lead to a healthier bottom line.
What makes the 7shifts cost calculator different?
 | Food Cost Template | |
| Easy schedule builder |  |  |
| Customizable to your restaurant | | |
| Free | | |
| Free mobile apps | |  |
| Communication tools (chat, announcement) | | |
| Automatic sales and labor reporting | | |
| POS Integration for automatic sales tracking | | |
| Easy manager note taking | | |
| Labor compliance tools | | |
Customize your food cost calculator for each recipe
1. Create sheets for each recipe: Make a sheet for each menu item or dish you want to analyze.
2. Create rows for ingredients: Write each of the ingredients used in the recipe.
3. Add columns to record ingredient details: Include fields for ingredient quantity, the unit of measurement, unit price, total ingredient cost, expiry date,
4. Add a portion-size column: Include a field for portion sizes so you know how much of each ingredient goes into each dish.
5. Set up cost-per-serving formulas: Add a formula that divides total recipe cost by the number of servings for each recipe column.
“It is SO easy to use. It is intimidating at first familiarizing yourself with the platform but after a few minutes it feels so natural using it. I used to do all of my scheduling on an excel spreadsheet. It would take two or three times as long as it takes me now on 7shifts.”
Eddie Cuellar
Restaurant owner, Tower Burger
“I was originally drawn to 7shifts because of their simple and easy interface for scheduling, but when I found out they also did payroll, it was a no-brainer. My employees onboarded via the 7shifts mobile app in 10 minutes and I'm already saving hours of time when it comes to processing payroll. Total game changer.”
Fahad Hanif
Owner/Operator, Halal Guys
“If you're a restaurant professional, this is a mandate. If this is a hobby for you, by all means, use something else. Use Excel, use post-it notes if you write it down. But if you're a professional and this is your career and your actual goal is to earn profit for your business, then there's no viable solution or anything that would make sense other than this. There just isn't.”
Mike Bausch
Owner, Andolini's
Ideal food cost percentages for each type of restaurant
Quick service restaurants
Quick service restaurants have lower food costs, around 18% to 22%, with their simpler menus. Fewer offerings and quick food prep make it easier to predict and control ingredient costs, especially with a food cost calculator.
Fast casual restaurants
Most fast casual restaurants aim for a food cost percentage of about 28‑30%. Update recipe details and overhead weekly, then review your calculation to spot any rising costs.
Full-service restaurants
Upscale places tend to have higher food cost percentages, as much as 40% or more, due to premium products. Factor in fancy ingredients, labor, and plating when you calculate total costs in your calculator.
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Calculating food costs is just one piece of the puzzle
While a food cost calculator can show you basic numbers, restaurants need more than just food cost calculation to thrive. With 7shifts, you get an all-in-one platform that goes beyond cost analysis.
All-in-one restaurant solution
7shifts does more than just help you calculate and reduce costs. Our restaurant software also manages schedules and improves team communication, making it easy to run your restaurant from top to bottom.
Holistic cost analysis for modern restaurants
Simple costing alone won’t help you adapt and thrive in a fast-changing industry. 7shifts gives you deeper insight into your menu pricing, overhead, and inventory through advanced analytics.
Grow your business without additional costs
Our platform scales to fit your needs, handling more than just food expenses. As your restaurant grows, 7shifts grow with you, so you won’t have to worry about additional software or complicated setups.
Calculate recipe costs for every dish
Calculating the recipe cost for each dish helps you see exactly how every ingredient affects your bottom line. With a cost calculator, restaurants can check for hidden expenses that weren’t accounted for in the pricing.
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