Loaded fries are a margin machine. Until the cheese hand gets heavy, bacon portions creep, and the fryer oil is ignored.
This guide is a U.S.-focused loaded fries cost calculator. Use it to price toppings correctly, set portion standards, and keep your best side profitable.
Quick Summary
- Fries are cheap; toppings are not
- Cost by raw potato weight + topping ounces
- Price extra cheese as an add-on
- Packaging and oil still count
U.S. Ingredient Benchmarks (Retail)
These are BLS U.S. city average prices. Use them as a sanity check, then replace with your supplier invoices.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes, white | $0.847/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.05/oz | Fry base cost anchor |
| Bacon, sliced | $6.760/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.42/oz | High-cost topping |
| Cheddar cheese, natural | $5.789/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.36/oz | Cheese over-portion = margin loss |
Portion Standards to Lock In
This is where loaded fries leak money.
- Raw potato ounces per order
- Cheese ounces per order
- Bacon ounces per order
- Sauce ounces per order
- Oil absorption cost per order
- Packaging cost per order
Example: Bacon Cheddar Loaded Fries
Portion assumptions (example):
- Potatoes: 10 oz raw (yields ~8 oz cooked)
- Cheese: 2 oz
- Bacon: 1.5 oz
- Sauce: 1 oz ($0.20)
- Green onion: $0.05
- Oil absorption: $0.15
- Packaging: $0.35
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potatoes | 10 oz | $0.05/oz | $0.53 |
| Cheese | 2 oz | $0.36/oz | $0.72 |
| Bacon | 1.5 oz | $0.42/oz | $0.63 |
| Sauce | 1 portion | n/a | $0.20 |
| Green onion | 1 portion | n/a | $0.05 |
| Oil absorption | 1 portion | n/a | $0.15 |
| Packaging | 1 set | n/a | $0.35 |
| Total | $2.63 |
Price Targets
| Target Food Cost % | Menu Price |
|---|---|
| 28% | $9.39 |
| 30% | $8.77 |
| 32% | $8.22 |
Loaded fries often sell at $9-$12. If you are below $8, your toppings are probably underpriced.
Extra Cheese Pricing
If cheese is the main driver, charge separately for extra.
Extra cheese cost = 1 oz x $0.36 = $0.36
Extra cheese price at 30% = $0.36 / 0.30 = $1.20Round to $1.25 or $1.50.
Margin Leak Checklist
- Potatoes are weighed per order
- Cheese ounces are portioned
- Bacon is portioned after cook
- Sauce cups are counted
- Oil and packaging are included
Related Guides
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Prime Cost Guide
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
Want Loaded Fries Costs Done Automatically?
KitchenCost tracks fries, toppings, and packaging in one place. Update one ingredient and every basket updates instantly.
Try KitchenCost.