How much should I charge for meal prep?

Multiply the hours of one cook day by the hourly rate you want, add any costs you pay yourself, and charge groceries at cost on top.

How do I price meal prep per meal?

Add your service fee and groceries, then divide by the total number of meals.

Guides & calculators

Meal prep pricing calculator (service fee + groceries)

Enter one cook day. The calculator suggests a service fee that pays your hourly rate and overhead, adds groceries at cost, and splits the total between your clients.

Your state (for the market check)ClientspeopleMeals per clientmealsGroceries (total, at cost)$Your hours (shop, cook, pack, deliver)hHourly rate you want$/hOther costs per cook day you pay yourself (optional)$Shopping fee on groceries (optional)%Containers per meal, if you buy them (optional)$Your current fee (optional, to check it)$

Market check

Published examples, not an average of all chefs. National ranges are adjusted to your state’s price level using the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis Regional Price Parities (2023, US = 100). Your skills, menu and clients matter more than any range.

How the fee is worked out

Service fee = your hours × your hourly rate + any costs you pay yourself, rounded up to the next $25. Groceries are added at cost (plus an optional shopping fee), and the total is split between clients. Enter your current fee to see what you really earn per hour today.

Want the menu and shopping list too?

ChefCents builds the menu, a shopping list scaled to the store, every cost and a client-ready proposal, in the same few minutes. Free during beta.

Start a free estimate

Questions chefs ask

How much should I charge for meal prep?: Multiply the hours of one cook day by the hourly rate you want, add any costs you pay yourself, and charge groceries at cost on top.
How do I price meal prep per meal?: Add your service fee and groceries, then divide by the total number of meals.