What does it cost to make a ready meal?
Cost to make, ex-works $2.1280 per 400g chilled tray, at 10,000 units
Per 1,000 units$2127.99
Whole run$21279.94
This is a realistic mid-market estimate, not a quote. The same product at 5,000 units and at 50,000 units are different businesses — run size moves tolling more than any other line. Use it to sanity-check a quote, not to replace one.
Where the money goes
Ingredients $0.9513 45%Packaging $0.3800 18%Tolling $0.6400 30%Inbound freight $0.0290 1%Yield loss $0.1277 6%
The formulation
| Ingredient | Qty | Price | Overage | Per unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 110 g/L | $5.40/lb | 5% | $0.5500 |
| Vegetables | 140 g/L | $1.30/lb | 6% | $0.1701 |
| Carbohydrate base | 120 g/L | $0.72/lb | 3% | $0.0785 |
| Sauce and seasoning | 90 g/L | $1.85/lb | 4% | $0.1527 |
| Ingredients per unit | $0.9513 | |||
What actually moves this number
- Hand assemblyMost ready meals are assembled by people. Labour is the dominant conversion cost and it does not fall much with volume.
- Chilled shelf lifeShort life means tight production windows, higher waste risk and a cold chain from the moment it leaves the line.
- Yield on fresh produceTrim and prep loss is real and recipe-specific. 94% is optimistic for some dishes.
What is not in here
- Excludes cold chain distribution, significant and ongoing in this category.
- Excludes shelf-life validation and microbiological testing.
Change the assumptions. Every figure above is an input, not a fact. Put your own supplier prices, your own pack size and your own run volume into the calculator and see what your product actually costs.
Open the calculatorOther products
Canned soft drink $0.1614 / unit Kombucha $0.5139 / unit Hot sauce $0.8867 / unit Skincare serum $2.8278 / unit Energy drink $0.1759 / unit Cold brew coffee $0.4184 / unit RTD cocktail $0.4067 / unit Flavoured sparkling water $0.1376 / unit Granola $2.3048 / unit Protein powder $11.4803 / unit Gummy supplements $2.3137 / unit Face cream $3.3752 / unit Shampoo $1.5113 / unit Candle $5.0816 / unit Laundry detergent $3.1031 / unit Pet treats $0.9522 / unit Chocolate bar $1.4098 / unit Liquid hand soap $1.0726 / unit Lip balm $0.5052 / unit
A cost you worked out once is already out of date.
Supplier prices move, co-packers raise rates, and runs yield worse than planned. NextBatch derives cost per unit instead of storing it, so it moves on its own.
No card. Set up your first product in about ten minutes.