Pricing guide · Baked goods
How to price sourdough bread: cost per loaf and what to charge
Sourdough has very low ingredient cost — flour, water and salt — but takes two days and a hot oven. Your price is mostly time and energy, not flour.
Example batch cost
$2.24
Cost per loaf
$2.24
Price at 30% food cost
$7.47
Sourdough bread cost calculator
Country sourdough loaf
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: Country sourdough loaf
This batch makes 1 loaf. Here is where the money goes, most expensive first:
| Ingredient | Used | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bread flour | 550 g | $1.76 |
| Bread bag | 1 piece | $0.24 |
| Whole wheat flour | 50 g | $0.19 |
| Rice flour (for dusting) | 10 g | $0.04 |
| Salt | 10 g | $0.01 |
| Total for 1 loaf | $2.24 | |
That is $2.24 per loaf. At a 30% food cost the price should be at least $7.47. Across the usual 25–35% range for baked goods, that is $6.40 (at 35%) to $8.96 (at 25%) per loaf — before your time and overheads.
What drives the cost of sourdough bread
- •Flour quality (organic or heritage grains cost 2–3× more)
- •Oven energy for long, hot bakes
- •Bags, labels and failed loaves
Tips for pricing sourdough bread
- ✓Bake in batches — energy per loaf drops a lot when the oven is full
- ✓Add a small waste % to flour to cover failed or misshapen loaves
- ✓Inclusions (olives, seeds, cheese) make premium loaves worth more
Sell whole loaves, half loaves and weekly subscriptions.
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 sourdough bread prices up to date
Save this recipe in the free CostMyDish app. Your ingredient prices live in one Library — when bread flour goes up, every recipe that uses it recalculates, and you see which items need a new price.
Get the free appCommon questions about pricing sourdough bread
How much does it cost to make one loaf?+
In our example (Country sourdough loaf, makes 1 loaf), the ingredients cost $2.24 in total, or $2.24 per loaf. Enter your own prices in the calculator for your exact cost.
What food cost % should I use for sourdough bread?+
For baked goods most businesses aim for 25–35%. At 30%, the example works out to at least $7.47 per loaf before labour and overheads.
Why is sourdough so expensive if the ingredients are cheap?+
Because the price pays for 24–48 hours of fermentation, shaping skill and oven energy. Ingredients are often under 15% of a sourdough price.
How much should I charge for a sourdough loaf?+
Cost the flour and salt, then add energy, packaging and your time per loaf. Check the suggested price as a floor, not a target.
More baked goods pricing guides
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