Burger combos sell. But they also hide margin leaks.
The burger gets bigger. The fries get heavier. Suddenly your best-selling combo is your worst margin.
This guide is a U.S.-focused burger and fries cost calculator. It uses public benchmarks, portion standards, and combo pricing math.
Quick Summary
- Patty weight decides your profit
- Fries must be priced by raw potato weight
- Combos need their own pricing math
- Add-ons should be priced with the same formula
U.S. Ingredient Benchmarks (Retail)
These are BLS U.S. city average prices. Use them as a sanity check, then replace with supplier costs.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef, 100% beef | $6.521/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.41/oz | Biggest burger line item |
| Bread, white, pan | $1.833/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.11/oz | Bun baseline cost |
| Cheddar cheese, natural | $6.049/lb (Sep 2025) | $0.38/oz | Cheese upsell cost |
| Potatoes, white | $0.847/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.05/oz | Fry cost anchor |
Portion Standards to Lock In
- Patty raw weight (oz)
- Bun weight (oz)
- Cheese slices per burger
- Fry portion (raw oz or grams)
- Sauce ounces per burger
- Packaging per combo
Write these into recipes. Train to them. That is the entire game.
Example: Classic Burger + Fries Combo
Portion assumptions (example):
- Patty: 5 oz raw
- Bun: 2.5 oz
- Cheese: 1 oz
- Veg + sauce: $0.20 (example)
- Fries: 6 oz raw potatoes
- Oil + seasoning: $0.20 (example)
- Packaging: $0.45 per combo
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef | 5 oz | $0.41/oz | $2.05 |
| Bun | 2.5 oz | $0.11/oz | $0.28 |
| Cheese | 1 oz | $0.38/oz | $0.38 |
| Veg + sauce | 1 burger | n/a | $0.20 |
| Fries (raw) | 6 oz | $0.05/oz | $0.30 |
| Oil + seasoning | 1 portion | n/a | $0.20 |
| Packaging | 1 set | n/a | $0.45 |
| Total combo cost | $3.86 |
Price Targets
| Target Food Cost % | Combo Price |
|---|---|
| 28% | $13.75 |
| 30% | $12.85 |
| 32% | $12.05 |
Round to $12.99 or $13.49 based on your market.
Combo Pricing Ladder
A ladder helps you protect margin without sticker shock.
| Tier | Example | Target Food Cost | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | 4 oz patty + small fries | 25-28% | Entry price anchor |
| Core | 5 oz patty + medium fries | 28-30% | Best seller |
| Premium | 6 oz patty + large fries | 30-33% | Higher ticket and add-ons |
Add-On Pricing Rule
Every add-on should follow this formula:
Add-on price = Add-on cost / Target food cost %Example:
- Extra cheese cost: $0.38
- Target cost: 30%
Add-on price = $0.38 / 0.30 = $1.27Round to $1.25 or $1.49.
Patty Shrink: Do a Yield Test
Do not bundle free sauces without pricing them. Free is not free when volume is high.
Burgers shrink when cooked. If you only measure cooked weight, you will underprice.
Run a simple yield test:
- Weigh raw patty
- Cook to standard
- Weigh cooked patty
- Record yield %
Update your recipe once. Then your costing is accurate forever.
Price Outlook (Why You Reprice Faster in 2026)
USDA projects food-away-from-home prices to rise again in 2026. If you reprice once a year, combos slowly lose margin.
Set a quarterly reminder. Update beef and potato costs. Then adjust combo pricing by $0.25-$0.50.
Margin Leak Checklist
- Patty weights are consistent
- Fries are portioned by weight
- Cheese add-on is priced
- Packaging is included
- Combos have their own pricing
Related Guides
- US Smash Burger Cost Guide
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Prime Cost Guide
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
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