Croissants are butter. Butter is money.
If you price croissants like a basic pastry, you undercharge for one of the most cost-sensitive items in the bakery.
This guide is a U.S.-focused croissant cost calculator. Use it to price classic, filled, and savory croissants with margin intact.
Quick Summary
- Butter price changes faster than you think
- Use dough weight and bake loss in your recipe
- Separate pricing for filled and savory croissants
- Track yield by tray, not by day
Why Croissant Costs Drift
- Butter is a huge cost share.
- Bake loss hides in yield.
- Fillings turn a pastry into a meal.
- Lamination waste compounds.
U.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
These BLS/FRED benchmarks are retail. Use them as directional signals, then plug in supplier pricing.
| Item | U.S. city average (Dec 2025) | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter | $4.408/lb | $0.28/oz | Main fat cost |
| Eggs, grade A, large | $2.712/dozen | $0.23/egg | Egg wash + fillings |
Croissant Cost Formula
Croissant cost = Dough cost + Butter cost + Fillings + Egg wash + Packaging
Food cost % = Croissant cost ÷ Menu priceExample: Plain Croissant (1 Unit)
Assumptions (example):
- Dough portion: 90g
- Butter inside dough: 25g
- Egg wash: 1/6 egg
- Packaging: $0.18
Butter cost (example):
- Butter cost: $0.28/oz
- 25g = 0.88 oz
- Butter line cost ≈ $0.25
Rule of thumb: If butter is over 35% of your total cost, your margin is extremely sensitive.
Filled Croissant Pricing
Build a separate recipe for every filling. Chocolate, almond, and ham-cheese are not “small add-ons.”
- Add filling weight and yield loss
- Add extra bake time and labor
- Price at a slightly lower cost % target
Do This Now
- Check your butter supplier invoice—what is your actual cost per pound?
- Weigh your dough portions and measure bake loss on a test batch
- Build separate recipes for plain, chocolate, and filled croissants
- Calculate butter as a percentage of total cost (if over 35%, margins are tight)
- Set a weekly reprice trigger if butter moves more than $0.50/lb
Related Guides
- Bakery Cost Guide
- US Cupcake Bakery Cost Guide
- US Cookie Shop Cost Guide
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- Recipe Costing Guide