Smash burgers look cheap. They are not.
A 4-oz patty, a slice of cheese, and a bun can feel like pocket change. But if your crew is heavy-handed with patties or sauces, profit disappears fast.
This guide is a U.S.-focused smash burger cost calculator. It uses U.S. price benchmarks, portion math, and real menu examples. Use it to price singles, doubles, and combos with confidence.
Quick Summary
- Cost burgers by patty ounces + cheese slices + bun weight
- Track raw-to-cooked yield for beef
- Portion sauces and toppings
- Price doubles as a premium, not a value add-on
Why Smash Burger Costing Is Tricky
- Patty size creep is real.
- A “4-oz” patty that becomes 4.5 oz kills margin.
- Doubles hide the real price jump.
- Two patties is not a small upgrade.
- Cheese costs are volatile.
- Dairy swings add up fast on high-volume items.
- Bun quality varies wildly.
- Cheap buns fall apart, premium buns cost 2-3x.
- Combo pricing masks fries and drink costs.
- You need real costs to build the bundle.
The Core Smash Burger Cost Formulas
Patty cost = (Raw beef price / Cooked yield %) x Patty oz
Burger cost = Bun + Patty + Cheese + Toppings + Sauce + Packaging
Food cost % = Burger cost / Menu priceU.S. Price Benchmarks (Retail, City Average)
These are BLS average retail prices via FRED. They are retail, not wholesale. Use them as a sanity check when suppliers change fast.
| Item | Latest U.S. city average | Unit cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef, 100% | $6.687/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.42/oz | Patty base |
| Cheddar cheese | $5.789/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.36/oz | Cheese slices |
| Lettuce, romaine | $3.399/lb (Nov 2025) | $0.21/oz | Toppings |
| Tomatoes, field grown | $1.840/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.12/oz | Slices |
| Bread, white pan | $1.833/lb (Dec 2025) | $0.11/oz | Bun proxy |
Price conversion formulas:
Price per oz = Price per lb / 16Example 1: Single Smash Burger
Assumptions (example):
- Raw beef price: $5.80/lb
- Cooked yield: 82%
- Patty size: 4 oz
- Bun: $0.38
- Cheese slice: $0.25
- Toppings (onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato): $0.18
- Sauce: $0.08
- Packaging: $0.20
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Portion | Unit Cost | Line Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patty | 4 oz | $5.80/lb ÷ 0.82 | $1.41 |
| Bun | 1 each | $0.38 | $0.38 |
| Cheese | 1 slice | $0.25 | $0.25 |
| Toppings | 1 portion | $0.18 | $0.18 |
| Sauce | 1 portion | $0.08 | $0.08 |
| Packaging | 1 set | $0.20 | $0.20 |
| Total burger cost | $2.50 |
Target price for 30% food cost:
$2.50 / 0.30 = $8.33Menu price range: $7.99-$8.99
Example 2: Double Smash Burger
Assumptions (example):
- Two patties (4 oz each): $2.82
- Two cheese slices: $0.50
- Same bun, toppings, sauce, packaging: $0.84
Total burger cost: $4.16
Target price for 30% food cost:
$4.16 / 0.30 = $13.87Menu price range: $12.99-$14.49
Double burgers must price higher than a simple add-on.
Combo Pricing (Don’t Hide the Fries)
If fries cost $0.55 and your drink costs $0.35, that $0.90 must live somewhere in the combo price.
Combo rule:
- Price burger as a standalone
- Add fries + drink at full cost
- Discount only if you can afford it
Portion Standards to Lock In
- Patty weight (oz)
- Cheese slice count
- Bun type (standard vs premium)
- Sauce portion (oz)
- Pickle/onion counts
If your team free-pours sauce, your margins shrink fast.
Weekly Costing Checklist (10 Minutes)
- Update beef and cheese prices
- Weigh patties before and after cook
- Recalculate top 5 sellers
- Review combo attachment rates
- Adjust prices or portions before weekend rush
How KitchenCost Helps Burger Shops
KitchenCost lets you build burger recipes with real yields and portions. Track every patty, topping, and price change in one place.
- Store cooked yields per protein
- Lock patty and sauce portions
- Separate cheese and premium toppings
- Recalculate menu prices in seconds
Want to stop guessing? Try KitchenCost - free to start.
Related guides:
- US Food Cost Calculator
- US Menu Pricing Calculator
- US Restaurant Portion Control Guide
- US Restaurant Prime Cost Calculator
- Food Cost Ratio Guide
- Menu Engineering Guide
- Pizza Cost Calculator