Packaging costs can destroy your delivery margin. Many restaurant owners forget to pass on pizza boxes, plastic containers, delivery bags, cutlery, napkins and sauce packaging in their delivery price. You're earning less than you think on every order.
Why packaging costs matter
Delivery orders come with extra expenses you don't face with dine-in guests: pizza boxes, plastic containers, delivery bags, cutlery, napkins and sauce packaging. These expenses accumulate fast.
⚠️ Watch out:
A pizza box costing €0.35 might seem minor, but at 100 pizzas weekly this costs €1,820 annually. Forget to pass this on? Your profit vanishes.
Calculate your total packaging costs per order
Start by listing everything needed for one typical delivery order:
- Pizza box or plastic container
- Delivery bags (typically 1 bag per 2-3 items)
- Plastic cutlery set
- Napkins
- Sauce containers
- Stickers or tape
💡 Example pizzeria:
Typical order: 2 pizzas + soft drink
- 2 pizza boxes: €0.70
- 1 delivery bag: €0.15
- Napkins: €0.05
- Sauce containers: €0.10
Total packaging costs: €1.00
Pass on packaging costs in your price
Treat packaging costs as part of your cost price - just like ingredients. Add them to your food cost and pass them on in your selling price.
Formula:
New selling price = (Ingredient costs + Packaging costs) / Desired cost price %
💡 Example calculation:
Margherita pizza delivery:
- Ingredient costs: €3.50
- Packaging costs: €0.50
- Total costs: €4.00
- Desired cost price: 30%
Minimum selling price excl. VAT: €4.00 / 0.30 = €13.33
Selling price incl. 9% VAT: €14.53
Different packaging per dish
Each dish has different packaging costs. A salad requires more expensive packaging than a pizza. Calculate packaging cost per individual dish.
- Pizzas: Sturdy cardboard box (€0.30-0.50)
- Pasta: Plastic container with lid (€0.20-0.35)
- Salads: Large salad container (€0.40-0.60)
- Soups: Leak-proof cup (€0.25-0.40)
⚠️ Watch out:
From years of working in professional kitchens, cheap packaging often proves expensive long-term. A leaking sauce container or broken pizza box costs more than the purchase price difference.
Platform fees and packaging costs
Delivery platforms like Thuisbezorgd charge 15-30% commission on your order value. Since packaging costs are part of your selling price, you'll also pay commission on your packaging costs.
💡 Example impact:
Pizza for €15 with €0.50 packaging costs:
- Platform commission 25%: €3.75
- Commission on packaging: €0.13
- Total packaging costs: €0.50 + €0.13 = €0.63
So you pay more for packaging than just the purchase price.
Optimize your packaging costs
Look for ways to reduce packaging costs without compromising quality:
- Volume purchasing: Larger quantities = lower price per unit
- Multi-purpose packaging: One container for different dishes
- Minimum order value: Higher minimum = fewer small orders with relatively high packaging costs
With a system like KitchenNmbrs you can add packaging costs to your recipes, so you automatically see the correct cost price including all packaging materials.
How do you pass on packaging costs? (step by step)
Inventory all packaging materials
Make a list of everything you use: boxes, containers, bags, cutlery, napkins, sauce containers. Note the purchase price per unit for each item.
Calculate packaging costs per dish
Add up what each dish costs in packaging. A pizza has different packaging than a salad. Calculate realistically: not every dish gets a delivery bag.
Add packaging costs to ingredient costs
Treat packaging as part of your cost price. Add ingredient costs + packaging costs and divide by your desired cost price percentage to get your minimum selling price.
✨ Pro tip
Track your packaging costs monthly for the first 6 months after launch. Most restaurants underestimate these costs by 30-40% initially, which can kill your delivery margins before you realize what's happening.
Calculate this yourself?
In the KitchenNmbrs app you can do this in just a few clicks. 7 days free, no credit card.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay VAT on packaging costs?
Yes, packaging costs are part of your selling price. On food for delivery you pay 9% VAT, so also on the packaging portion of your price.
Can I charge packaging costs separately to the customer?
You can, but it's not common in the Netherlands. Most restaurants pass on packaging costs in their menu price. A separate packaging surcharge can deter customers.
What percentage of my order value should go to packaging?
Standard is 2-5% of your order value. On a €20 order, €0.40-1.00 in packaging costs is normal. If you're higher, it's worth looking for cheaper alternatives.
Do I have to pay commission on packaging costs?
Yes, delivery platforms charge commission on your total order value, including the portion that goes to packaging. Factor this into your cost price.
📚 Sources consulted
- EU Verordening 852/2004 — Levensmiddelenhygiëne (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 853/2004 — Hygiënevoorschriften voor levensmiddelen van dierlijke oorsprong (2004) — Official source
- EU Verordening 1169/2011 — Voedselinformatie aan consumenten (2011) — Official source
- NVWA — Hygiënecode voor de horeca (2024) — Official source
- NVWA — Allergenen in voedsel (2024) — Official source
- Codex Alimentarius — International Food Standards (2024) — Official source
- FSA — Safer food, better business (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- BVL — Lebensmittelhygiene (HACCP) (2024) — Official source
- Warenwetbesluit Bereiding en behandeling van levensmiddelen (2024) — Official source
- WHO — Foodborne diseases estimates (2024) — Official source
Food Standards Agency (FSA) — https://www.food.gov.uk
The HACCP standards shown in this application are for informational purposes only. KitchenNmbrs does not guarantee that displayed values are current or complete. Always consult the FSA or your local authority for the latest regulations.
Written by
Jeffrey Smit
Founder & CEO of KitchenNmbrs
Jeffrey Smit built KitchenNmbrs from 8 years of hands-on experience as kitchen manager at 1NUL8 Group in Rotterdam. His mission: give every restaurant owner control over food cost.
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