A baked potato looks cheap. A loaded baked potato is not.
Bacon, cheese, and butter turn a $0.60 base into a $2.50 bowl fast. If you do not cost toppings separately, you will underprice every order.
This guide is a U.S.-focused baked potato cost calculator. It uses public price benchmarks, topping math, and pricing targets for loaded potatoes and potato bars.
Quick Summary
- The potato is cheap; the toppings are expensive
- Butter and cheese are the real cost drivers
- Price toppings as add-ons, not as freebies
- Track packaging cost for takeout bowls
Why Loaded Potato Margins Leak
- Cheese creep
- Two extra ounces erase profit.
- Bacon underpriced
- Bacon often costs more than the potato itself.
- Portion sizes are inconsistent
- Scoops vary by staff and rush speed.
- Packaging costs are ignored
- Bowls and lids add real dollars.
- Combo pricing hides true cost
- A cheap drink add-on does not fix a low-margin potato.
U.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
Use these as directional benchmarks, then plug in your supplier numbers.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes, white | $0.847/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.05/oz | Base cost |
| Butter | $4.539/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.28/oz | Flavor + richness |
| Cheddar cheese | $6.049/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.38/oz | Topping cost driver |
| Bacon, sliced | $6.760/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.42/oz | Premium topping |
Base Potato Cost Example
Portion assumption: 12 oz raw potato.
12 oz x $0.05 = $0.60Add a 0.5 oz butter finish:
0.5 oz x $0.28 = $0.14Base potato cost:
$0.60 + $0.14 = $0.74Loaded Potato Cost Example
Topping assumptions:
- Cheddar: 2 oz
- Bacon: 1 oz
- Sour cream: 1 oz ($0.25 example)
- Green onion: $0.05 (example)
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potato base | 12 oz | $0.05/oz | $0.60 |
| Butter | 0.5 oz | $0.28/oz | $0.14 |
| Cheddar | 2 oz | $0.38/oz | $0.76 |
| Bacon | 1 oz | $0.42/oz | $0.42 |
| Sour cream | 1 oz | — | $0.25 |
| Green onion | — | — | $0.05 |
| Total food cost | $2.22 |
Add packaging for takeout bowls (example $0.20):
$2.22 + $0.20 = $2.42Price Targets
| Target Food Cost % | Menu Price |
|---|---|
| 28% | $8.64 |
| 30% | $8.07 |
| 32% | $7.56 |
If your market will not accept $7–9, reduce bacon ounces or offer bacon as an add-on.
Add-On Pricing Formula
Toppings must follow a simple rule:
Add-on price = Added cost ÷ Target food cost %Example (extra bacon):
- Added cost: $0.42
- Target food cost: 30%
$0.42 ÷ 0.30 = $1.40If you charge $0.75, you are losing margin.
Potato Bar Pricing
Potato bars can be high-margin if you control portions.
Rules:
- Charge a base price for the potato
- Price premium toppings separately (bacon, chili, extra cheese)
- Use a limited set of included toppings
This protects margin and keeps the line moving.
Chili-Loaded Variant
Chili is a common topping for potato bars. It is only profitable if you cost it as a separate SKU.
If your chili cost per 4 oz serving is $1.00:
$1.00 ÷ 0.30 = $3.33 add-on priceIf you cannot charge that, reduce chili portion size.
Portion Control System
- Use a scale for cheese during training
- Pre-portion bacon bits
- Use a butter scoop for consistency
- Set a maximum topping count per order
Consistency keeps margins stable.
Price Outlook (Why You Must Recheck Costs)
USDA ERS reports food prices rose 2.3% in 2024 and 2.9% in 2025, with 2.0–3.0% forecast for 2026.
Butter, cheese, and bacon move faster than potatoes. Review pricing every quarter.
Quick Checklist
- Track cheese and bacon prices monthly
- Pre-portion premium toppings
- Separate base potato and topping pricing
- Audit takeout packaging cost
- Reprice potato bar menus quarterly
Related Guides
- US Food Cost Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- US Menu Price Rounding Guide
- US Chili Cost Guide
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
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