The BLT is a simple sandwich. That is why it should be a consistent profit maker.
But BLT margin leaks happen fast: extra bacon, heavier tomato slices, and bread portion drift.
This guide is a U.S.-focused BLT cost calculator. Use it to set portions, price correctly, and avoid death by a thousand slices.
Quick Summary
- The bacon portion decides the profit
- Tomato and lettuce weights drift more than you think
- Price classic vs extra bacon separately
- Include packaging and chips in every cost
U.S. Ingredient Benchmarks (Retail)
These are BLS U.S. city average prices. Use them as a sanity check, then replace with your invoice costs.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon, sliced | $6.760/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.42/oz | Biggest cost driver |
| Bread, white, pan | $1.833/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.11/oz | BLT margin anchor |
| Tomatoes, field grown | $1.840/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.12/oz | Seasonal swings |
| Lettuce, iceberg | $1.731/lb (Sep 2025) | $0.12/oz | Shrink + waste risk |
Portion Standards to Lock In
Write these into recipes and train them. The BLT looks easy, so people stop measuring.
- Bacon slices per sandwich
- Total bacon ounces per sandwich
- Tomato ounces per sandwich
- Lettuce ounces per sandwich
- Bread weight per sandwich
- Mayo or aioli ounces per sandwich
- Packaging cost per sandwich
Example: Classic BLT (3-Slice Bacon)
Portion assumptions (example):
- Bacon: 3 slices (1.5 oz)
- Bread: 2 slices (2 oz)
- Tomato: 2 oz
- Lettuce: 0.7 oz
- Mayo: $0.08 per sandwich (example)
- Packaging: $0.35 per sandwich
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon | 1.5 oz | $0.42/oz | $0.63 |
| Bread | 2 oz | $0.11/oz | $0.22 |
| Tomato | 2 oz | $0.12/oz | $0.24 |
| Lettuce | 0.7 oz | $0.12/oz | $0.08 |
| Mayo | 1 portion | n/a | $0.08 |
| Packaging | 1 set | n/a | $0.35 |
| Total | $1.60 |
Price Targets
| Target Food Cost % | Menu Price |
|---|---|
| 28% | $5.75 |
| 30% | $5.35 |
| 32% | $5.00 |
Round to $5.49 or $5.99 depending on your market.
Extra Bacon BLT (5-Slice Upgrade)
Extra bacon should never be free. Treat it like a premium version.
Upgrade assumption:
- Bacon: 5 slices (2.5 oz)
Added bacon cost:
Extra bacon cost = (2.5 oz - 1.5 oz) x $0.42 = $0.42New total cost: $1.60 + $0.42 = $2.02
At a 30% food cost target:
Price = $2.02 / 0.30 = $6.73Round to $6.99 or $7.25.
Tomato Seasonality: Do Not Guess
Tomato prices move a lot through the year. If your BLT uses large slices, pricing must move with them.
Simple fix:
- Weigh tomato portion once per month
- Update price if cost moves by 8-10%
This keeps the BLT stable year-round.
Chips and Sides: Separate the Math
If you add chips or a pickle, price them separately.
Use the same rule:
Side price = Side cost / Target food cost %Example:
- Chips cost: $0.35
- Target cost: 30%
Side price = $0.35 / 0.30 = $1.17Round to $1.25.
Margin Leak Checklist
- Bacon slices are counted
- Tomato is weighed, not eyeballed
- Lettuce is portioned after trim
- Mayo is costed
- Packaging is included
- Extra bacon has its own price
Related Guides
- Sandwich Deli Cost Guide
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Prime Cost Guide
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
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