Breakfast sandwiches feel simple. A few eggs, a few slices of bacon, a toasted bun. But small portion drift turns a $9 seller into a $7.50 mistake.
This guide is a U.S.-focused breakfast sandwich cost calculator. It uses public price benchmarks, portion math, and real pricing examples. Use it to price morning sandwiches with confidence.
Quick Summary
- Breakfast sandwich margins are won on portion control, not marketing
- Egg and bacon prices swing fast, so update costs monthly
- Price add-ons (avocado, extra egg, double bacon) as full line items
- Build a 3-tier menu so price increases feel normal
Why Breakfast Sandwich Costing Leaks
- Egg portions drift in a rush.
- One extra egg per sandwich can erase the profit on the whole order.
- Bacon is expensive and easy to over-portion.
- Two slices vs. three slices is a real margin decision.
- Cheese is “small” but constant.
- A heavier slice adds up across 200 sandwiches a day.
- Sauces and spreads are invisible costs.
- Aioli, butter, and jam are real line items, not freebies.
- Combos hide cost discipline.
- If the sandwich is underpriced, the combo is worse.
U.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
These BLS/FRED benchmarks are retail. Use them as directional signals, then plug in your supplier costs.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs, large (dozen) | $2.712/dozen (Dec 2025) | $0.23/egg | Core breakfast cost driver |
| Bacon, sliced | $7.532/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.47/oz | The highest-cost protein |
| Bread, white | $1.833/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.11/oz | Bun/roll baseline |
| Cheese, cheddar | $6.813/lb (Sep 2025) | $0.43/oz | Common slice cost |
Data freshness note: Cheddar is latest Sep 2025 in the BLS/FRED series. The other items are latest Dec 2025.
Price Outlook (Plan for Repricing)
USDA ERS reports food-away-from-home prices rose 4.1% in 2024 and 3.8% in 2025, with a 4.6% increase forecast for 2026. Breakfast menus that update once a year will bleed margin. Reprice quarterly and lock portions.
Portion Standards to Lock In
Write these down and train to them:
- Eggs per sandwich (1, 2, or 3)
- Bacon slices (2 vs 3 is a real pricing decision)
- Cheese slice weight (oz)
- Bun size (oz)
- Sauce spread weight (oz)
- Butter/oil used on the griddle (oz)
- Packaging cost per sandwich
Small drift per sandwich becomes a big loss per week.
Example 1: Classic Bacon, Egg, and Cheese
Portion assumptions:
- Eggs: 2 eggs
- Bacon: 2 oz cooked
- Cheese: 1 oz
- Bun: 3 oz
- Butter + sauce: $0.18 (example)
- Packaging: $0.20 (example)
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 2 eggs | $0.23/egg | $0.46 |
| Bacon | 2 oz | $0.47/oz | $0.94 |
| Cheese | 1 oz | $0.43/oz | $0.43 |
| Bun | 3 oz | $0.11/oz | $0.35 |
| Butter + sauce | 1 portion | $0.18 (example) | $0.18 |
| Packaging | 1 set | $0.20 (example) | $0.20 |
| Total sandwich cost | $2.56 |
Price Targets
| Target Food Cost % | Menu Price |
|---|---|
| 28% | $9.14 |
| 30% | $8.53 |
| 32% | $8.00 |
If your market cannot support $8–$9 for a sandwich, reduce bacon ounces before discounting price.
Example 2: Egg + Cheese (No Meat)
Portion assumptions:
- Eggs: 2 eggs
- Cheese: 1 oz
- Bun: 3 oz
- Butter + sauce: $0.16 (example)
- Packaging: $0.20 (example)
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eggs | 2 eggs | $0.23/egg | $0.46 |
| Cheese | 1 oz | $0.43/oz | $0.43 |
| Bun | 3 oz | $0.11/oz | $0.35 |
| Butter + sauce | 1 portion | $0.16 (example) | $0.16 |
| Packaging | 1 set | $0.20 (example) | $0.20 |
| Total sandwich cost | $1.60 |
This is your margin anchor. Keep it simple and price it competitively.
Build a Price Ladder
A ladder lets you raise prices without resistance. Offer clear upgrades that justify the price jump.
| Tier | Example | Target Food Cost | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Egg + cheese | 25–28% | High-margin entry item |
| Standard | Bacon egg cheese | 28–32% | Most popular core item |
| Premium | Double bacon + avocado | 30–35% | Upsell with real value |
Rule: Every add-on must have its own line-item cost and price.
Add-On Pricing That Protects Margin
If you charge $1 for avocado but it costs you $0.85, that add-on is not worth it.
Use this simple rule:
Add-on price = Add-on cost ÷ Target food cost %Example:
Avocado cost = $0.85
Target food cost = 30%
Add-on price = 0.85 ÷ 0.30 = $2.83Round to $2.75 or $2.99.
Common Leak Checklist
- Are eggs weighed or counted per sandwich?
- Is bacon portioned by weight, not “slices”?
- Is cheese slice weight consistent across shifts?
- Are sauces in bottles or portion cups?
- Is packaging treated as a fixed line item?
If any of these are “no,” start there before you change menu prices.
Do This Now: Weekly Breakfast Sandwich Checklist
- Weigh egg portions and bread slices
- Update meat and cheese prices from invoices
- Recalculate top 3 sandwiches if any ingredient moved >5%
- Check butter and condiment usage vs. sales
- Audit portion consistency during peak hours
Related Guides
- US Breakfast Diner Cost Guide
- US Bagel Shop Cost Guide
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Menu Pricing Calculator
- Prime Cost Guide
- Menu Engineering Guide
Want Breakfast Sandwich Costs Done Automatically?
KitchenCost stores egg, bacon, cheese, and bun costs in one place. Update one ingredient price and every sandwich cost updates instantly.
Try KitchenCost.