Pricing guide · Baked goods
How to price donuts: cost per donut and what to charge
Donuts have cheap dough but frying oil is a real cost. Count the oil you use up (absorbed and discarded), not the whole fryer.
Example batch cost
$6.29
Cost per donut
$0.52
Price at 30% food cost
$1.75
Donuts cost calculator
Glazed yeast donuts
Enter your price to see food cost % and profit.
The app keeps your ingredient prices. When butter goes up, every dish that uses it updates — no re-typing.
Worked example: Glazed yeast donuts
This batch makes 12 donuts. Here is where the money goes, most expensive first:
| Ingredient | Used | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Frying oil (used up) | 500 ml | $3.00 |
| All-purpose flour | 450 g | $1.13 |
| Eggs | 2 each | $0.60 |
| Icing sugar (glaze) | 250 g | $0.55 |
| Butter | 55 g | $0.44 |
| Milk | 240 ml | $0.29 |
| Instant yeast | 7 g | $0.18 |
| Sugar | 60 g | $0.11 |
| Total for 12 donuts | $6.29 | |
That is $0.52 per donut. At a 30% food cost the price should be at least $1.75. Across the usual 25–35% range for baked goods, that is $1.50 (at 35%) to $2.10 (at 25%) per donut — before your time and overheads.
What drives the cost of donuts
- •Frying oil absorbed and replaced
- •Glazes, fillings and toppings
- •Boxes for dozens
Tips for pricing donuts
- ✓Track how much oil you top up per batch and enter that as the amount used
- ✓Price filled and topped donuts as premium versions
- ✓Holes and offcuts can be sold as bites instead of wasted
Sell singles, half-dozens and dozens; filled and topped versions at a premium.
Don’t forget your time and overheads
Ingredients are only part of the price. For baked goods, your time (mixing, proving, baking, decorating, packing) is often the biggest cost — add an hourly rate on top, plus 10–20% for energy, equipment and fees.
Keep your donuts prices up to date
Save this recipe in the free CostMyDish app. Your ingredient prices live in one Library — when frying oil (used up) goes up, every recipe that uses it recalculates, and you see which items need a new price.
Get the free appCommon questions about pricing donuts
How much does it cost to make one donut?+
In our example (Glazed yeast donuts, makes 12 donuts), the ingredients cost $6.29 in total, or $0.52 per donut. Enter your own prices in the calculator for your exact cost.
What food cost % should I use for donuts?+
For baked goods most businesses aim for 25–35%. At 30%, the example works out to at least $1.75 per donut before labour and overheads.
How do I include frying oil in donut cost?+
Enter the oil you actually use up per batch (topped up or discarded) as an ingredient. Spread over 12 donuts it is often a significant line.
How much should I charge for a dozen donuts?+
Cost per donut × 12, divided by your target food cost, plus the box and labour.
More baked goods pricing guides
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