The cost price of a meal box consists of more than just ingredients. Many entrepreneurs forget packaging costs, which causes them to lose money unknowingly on every order. In this article, you'll learn step-by-step how to include all costs in your calculation.
What's included in the cost price of a meal box?
With delivery and pickup, there are extra costs that you don't have with guests in your restaurant. You need to include these costs in your cost price calculation:
- Ingredients: all food that goes in the box
- Packaging: boxes, containers, bags
- Stickers and labels: brand name, ingredients, allergens
- Cutlery and napkins: plastic forks, knives, spoons
- Extras: sauces, rolls, desserts
⚠️ Attention:
Many entrepreneurs only calculate with ingredients and forget that packaging sometimes makes up 10-15% of the cost price. This can mean the difference between profit and loss.
Calculate ingredient costs
Start with the basics: what do all the ingredients that go in the meal box cost?
- Main course (meat, fish, vegetarian)
- Side dishes (vegetables, potatoes, rice)
- Sauces and dressings
- Garnish and spices
- Oil and butter for preparation
💡 Example ingredients:
Chicken salad meal box for 2 people:
- Chicken fillet (300g): €3.60
- Mixed salad (200g): €1.20
- Tomatoes (150g): €0.75
- Cucumber (100g): €0.40
- Dressing (50ml): €0.35
- Rolls (2 pieces): €0.80
Total ingredients: €7.10
Add packaging costs
Packaging is a hidden cost item that has a big impact on your margin. Add up all packaging materials:
- Main packaging: cardboard box or bag (€0.15 - €0.40)
- Food containers: plastic containers for different components (€0.10 - €0.25 per container)
- Cups and pots: for sauces and dressings (€0.05 - €0.15 per piece)
- Insulation: cooling elements or insulation material (€0.10 - €0.30)
💡 Example packaging:
Packaging for the chicken salad meal box:
- Cardboard box: €0.25
- Salad container: €0.15
- Dressing pot: €0.08
- Bread bag: €0.06
- Cooling element: €0.12
Total packaging: €0.66
Cutlery and accessories
Small items add up in large volumes too. Include:
- Plastic cutlery: fork, knife, spoon (€0.03 - €0.08 per set)
- Napkins: paper napkins (€0.02 - €0.05 per piece)
- Toothpicks: for certain dishes (€0.01 per piece)
- Wet wipes: for sticky food (€0.05 - €0.10 per piece)
Stickers and labels
Professional presentation costs money, but also increases brand value:
- Brand stickers: logo and contact details (€0.02 - €0.08)
- Ingredient labels: required for allergens (€0.01 - €0.03)
- Instruction stickers: reheating or preparation instructions (€0.01 - €0.05)
- Seal stickers: for food safety (€0.01 - €0.03)
💡 Example complete cost price:
Chicken salad meal box - all costs:
- Ingredients: €7.10
- Packaging: €0.66
- Cutlery set: €0.05
- Napkins (2x): €0.06
- Stickers: €0.08
Total cost price: €7.95
Calculate food cost for delivery
For meal boxes, the same formula applies as for restaurant dishes:
Food cost % = (Total cost price / Selling price excl. VAT) × 100
Note: for pickup and delivery, 9% VAT applies, just like in the restaurant.
💡 Example food cost calculation:
Chicken salad box sold for €18.50 incl. VAT:
- Selling price excl. VAT: €18.50 / 1.09 = €16.97
- Cost price: €7.95
- Food cost: (€7.95 / €16.97) × 100 = 46.8%
This is high for a restaurant, but with delivery, higher food costs are normal due to packaging costs.
Include platform fees
If you sell via Deliveroo, Uber Eats or other platforms, also deduct the platform fee from your net revenue:
- Platform fees range between 15% and 30% of the order value
- Calculate your food cost based on what you receive net
- Example: €18.50 minus 25% platform fee = €13.88 net revenue
⚠️ Attention:
With platform sales, your 'real' food cost can be much higher. In the example above, the food cost becomes 57% when you calculate with the net revenue of €13.88.
Optimization tips
Control packaging costs without compromising quality:
- Buy in volume: larger quantities of packaging = lower price per piece
- Multifunctional packaging: one container for multiple components
- Standardization: use the same sizes for different dishes
- Seasonal purchasing: stock packaging when prices are low
How do you calculate the cost price of a meal box? (step by step)
Make a list of all ingredients
Write down each ingredient that goes in the box with exact quantity and purchase price. Don't forget spices, oil and garnish - small amounts add up in large volumes.
Add up all packaging costs
Calculate what boxes, containers, pots, cooling elements and bags cost per box. Get quotes from different suppliers to get the best price.
Add cutlery, napkins and stickers
Small accessories like plastic cutlery, napkins and brand stickers also cost money. Add everything up for the complete cost price per meal box.
Calculate your food cost percentage
Divide the total cost price by your selling price excl. VAT and multiply by 100. With delivery, higher food costs are normal due to packaging costs.
Deduct platform fees (if applicable)
If you sell via delivery platforms, calculate your food cost based on what you receive net after deducting platform fees of 15-30%.
✨ Pro tip
Create a standard cost price template for all your meal boxes. Then you only need to adjust the ingredients and you'll immediately see if a new box will be profitable.
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
What is a normal food cost for meal boxes?
For meal boxes, food cost is often higher than in restaurants: 35-50% is normal due to packaging costs. With platform sales, this can rise to 60% due to commissions.
Should I include VAT in my cost price calculation?
No, always calculate with prices excl. VAT. On pickup and delivery, 9% VAT applies, so divide your menu price by 1.09 for the price excl. VAT.
How can I reduce packaging costs?
Buy in volume, use multifunctional packaging and standardize your sizes. Also get quotes from different suppliers - prices can vary significantly.
Should I always include cooling elements in the cost price?
Yes, if you use cooling elements for food safety, you must include these costs. Reusable elements are more expensive per piece but can be more cost-effective with regular customers.
How often should I update my cost prices?
Check your ingredient and packaging purchase prices monthly. Suppliers regularly raise prices, especially during inflation or raw material shortages.
📚 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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