Artisanal Solutions / Free tools / Cost per jar calculator

Free tool

Cost per jar calculator

Find the true cost of one jar, bottle or bag from a single batch: ingredients, packaging, labels, your time and the kitchen. Then see the price at your margin.

Use the calculatorGet a plan and a price

Free, no sign-up. Runs in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere.

Cost per jar calculator

Enter one batch. Works for jars, bottles, bars or bags.

True cost per unit

$0

  • Ingredients
  • Packaging
  • Labor
  • Overhead
  • Batch cost
  • Price at your margin
  • Retail at 2× that

Labor is the line most makers leave out. If the price only works without it, the price is too low.

Add this calculator to your site

Free for blogs, markets, extension offices and maker groups. Paste this code where you want it to show.

<iframe src="https://madelines.co/pages/cost-per-jar-calculator?view=embed" title="Cost per jar calculator" width="100%" height="620" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>
<p>Cost per jar calculator by <a href="https://madelines.co/pages/cost-per-jar-calculator">Madeline's</a></p>

How the math works

Add up one batch: ingredients, plus jar, lid and labels for every unit, plus hours times your hourly rate, plus kitchen and overhead. Divide by the units you actually sell from the batch. That is your cost per jar. Price from there, not from what others charge.

Getting the inputs right

  1. Units after losses

    Use the number of jars you can sell, not the number you planned. Spills, short fills, tasting and seconds all come out of the batch.

  2. Price your time

    Count every hour: prep, cooking, filling, labeling and cleaning. Use a wage you would pay someone else.

  3. Spread the overhead

    Divide a month of kitchen rent, insurance and software by the batches you make that month to get overhead per batch.

  4. Update with input prices

    Fruit, sugar, peppers and glass move. Rerun the numbers when you reorder.

Want these numbers built into your store and books?

Tell us what you make. We send back a short plan and a price.

Get a plan and a price

How it works

  1. Run the numbers

    Use the calculator above with your own costs. Nothing you type leaves your browser.

  2. Tell us what you make

    If you want these numbers built into your store, price lists and books, send a note.

  3. Get a short plan

    Keep this, replace that, connect these, and the cost.

  4. We set it up

    Setup done for you. You approve before anything goes live.

Questions

How do I calculate cost per jar?

Add ingredients, packaging, labor and overhead for one batch, then divide by the number of sellable jars. Packaging is per jar, so multiply jar, lid and label costs by the unit count first.

Should I include my own labor?

Yes. If the price only works when your time is free, the price is too low, and it will not work once you hire help.

What margin should a food maker aim for?

Many makers aim for about 50% on wholesale so there is room for discounts, shipping and a distributor later. Use the wholesale calculator to test yours.

Get a plan and a price

Tell us what you make and what you use today. A spreadsheet and a Square account is a fine answer. We reply by email with what we would keep, what we would change and what it costs.

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