RESTAURANT / FREE OPERATOR TOOLS
Restaurant Break-Even Calculator
Find monthly sales needed to cover fixed and variable operating costs.
Default numbers are an example, not industry data.
Formula
Contribution margin ratio = 1 − variable cost % ÷ 100. Break-even sales = fixed costs ÷ margin ratio; covers = sales ÷ average check; daily amounts = monthly amounts ÷ open days.
How it works
Break-even sales cover the fixed costs entered plus costs that change with sales. Enter monthly fixed costs, the variable cost percentage of net sales, an average net check per guest and the number of days actually open that month.
Classify costs carefully: rent may be fixed, ingredients variable, and labor a mixture. Do not include the same cost in both categories. Use sales excluding VAT or sales tax consistently and match all inputs to the month. Compare the required covers with practical capacity, then test changes in costs or average check.
Worked example
20,000 fixed costs ÷ 40% contribution margin = 50,000 monthly sales. At a 25 check this means 2,000 covers, or 2,000 sales and 80 covers per day over 25 days.
Frequently asked questions
What is contribution margin ratio?
It is the share of sales remaining after variable costs. With 60% variable costs, the ratio is 40% and that remainder pays fixed costs.
Does break-even include a profit target?
No. It covers the fixed and variable costs entered. To model a desired operating profit, add that amount to fixed costs for the scenario.
Why is there no result at 100% variable cost?
There is no positive contribution left to cover fixed costs. A finite break-even sales figure needs a variable cost rate below 100%.
Are my inputs saved or uploaded?
Calculations run in your browser. Inputs are not uploaded by the calculator. Sharing puts the inputs in a readable URL; anyone with that link can see them.