Most owners can quote food cost by item. Fewer can quote packaging cost by order.
That gap matters because packaging is now a repeat variable cost on every off-premise order.
Quick Take
- U.S. food-away-from-home prices were up 4.0% year over year in the CPI release published on February 13, 2026.
- Marketplace commission plans still operate with meaningful percentage-based deductions.
- In owner communities, packaging and disposables keep showing up as a “death by paper cuts” margin leak.
- If you do not price packaging explicitly, low-ticket takeout orders often underperform.
The Packaging Math You Actually Need
Use this formula:
Packaging cost per order =
primary container
+ secondary container
+ bag
+ cutlery/napkin/condiments
+ label/sticker
+ packaging waste allowanceThen check packaging as a share of order subtotal:
Packaging % = Packaging cost per order / Pre-tax order subtotalWorked Example
Assume one delivery order:
- bowl container + lid: $0.42
- side cup + lid: $0.14
- paper bag: $0.18
- napkin/cutlery/condiment pack: $0.21
- label/sticker: $0.05
- waste allowance: $0.05
Packaging cost per order = $1.05On a $17 pre-tax subtotal:
Packaging % = 1.05 / 17 = 6.2%At this level, packaging alone can erase thin delivery contribution unless pricing is channel-specific.
Segment Packaging by Channel
Track at least three channels separately:
- dine-in
- pickup
- third-party delivery
If you blend them, your averages hide the real leak.
Practical 2026 Rules
- Assign packaging SKUs to each menu item class.
- Rebuild per-order packaging cost monthly.
- Add packaging to channel contribution models, not only COGS.
- Reprice low-ticket items when packaging % breaches your threshold.
What Operators Ask Most
In restaurant-owner threads, the common pain is:
- “Costs are small individually, but huge at month-end.”
- “We raised food prices, but delivery margin still feels weak.”
This is usually packaging + fee stack, not one single line item.
Weekly Packaging Control Checklist
- Top 20 off-premise items mapped to packaging SKUs
- Last invoice updates applied
- Packaging % reviewed by channel
- Low-ticket outliers flagged
- Bundle/add-on strategy updated for flagged items
If packaging % climbs while ticket size is flat, fix structure first, then price.
Related Guides
- US Delivery Minimum Order Playbook (2026)
- US Delivery App Pricing Guide
- US In-House Delivery Fee Pricing Guide
- US Credit Card Processing Fee Pricing Guide
KitchenCost helps you include packaging in channel-level contribution math so takeout and delivery prices are grounded in real unit economics.