Meal Cost Calculator

How to calculate cost per serving

1. Enter the pack price and quantity from your receipt or label. For loose produce, use the price and weight you bought.
2. Enter the quantity that goes into your meal. You can mix grams and kilograms, or ounces and pounds, within a row.
3. Choose the number of equal servings. Add any other costs you want to include, then print or download your breakdown.

For example, using 500 g from a £6, 1 kg pack costs £3. If all the ingredients in your batch cost £3.60 and you make four servings, each serving costs £0.90. These are example prices; enter your own for a useful result.

What the result includes

The ingredient total covers the amount used, including a share of oil, sauces and spices. Buying full packs can cost more at the checkout because you will have ingredients left over. Other batch costs are included only when you enter them.

Match the quantity you use to the form you bought. If a pack contains dry rice, enter the dry amount taken from that pack. For meat with bones or produce with peel, include the amount bought for the meal, including any discarded parts.

A useful check for US and UK packs

You can price a pack in pounds or ounces and enter the amount used in grams; the tool converts compatible weight units. Use ml or litres for volume. If a label gives fluid ounces, convert the labelled US or Imperial volume to ml first. Weight ounces and fluid ounces are different. Use the final price in one currency throughout, including any tax or discount you want included.

Meal cost questions

Can I change the currency?

Yes. Choose USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, AUD or PKR. This changes the currency label; it does not convert exchange rates. Enter every price in the same currency.

What if I use more than one pack?

Enter the full amount used. If a 500 g pack costs £2 and you use 750 g, the ingredient cost is £3. You would need to buy two packs if you had none already, with 250 g left over.

Can I enter cups or tablespoons?

Use weight, millilitres or litres, or an item count. For a spoonful of oil, use its volume in millilitres. For dry ingredients measured in cups, weigh the amount or use a food-specific conversion. A cup of flour and a cup of rice have different weights.

Does this calculate calories or find grocery prices?

Prices and quantities come from you. This tool does not look up shop prices or calculate nutrition. Use the Recipe Nutrition Calculator for calorie and nutrient estimates.

Are my prices and ingredient names saved?

Your entries are processed in this browser tab and are not saved by this calculator. Reloading or closing the page clears them. Use Print / Save PDF or Download CSV to keep a copy. See our Privacy Policy for site cookies and analytics.

Cost method: Budget Bytes: calculating recipe costs. Results depend on the prices, quantities and serving count you enter. Totals use unrounded ingredient costs; displayed amounts are rounded to two decimal places.