Delivery App Commission Calculator — Menu Price to Keep Your Profit
See what a food delivery app commission really costs per order and the menu price you need on the app to keep the same profit as an in-store sale, with a price table for 15–35% commissions.
How it works
Commission = menu price × commission % · Payout = menu price − commission · App profit = payout − food cost − extra packaging · App price to keep the in-store profit = (menu price + extra packaging) ÷ (1 − commission %)
Delivery platforms take a commission — commonly 15–30% of the menu price, more for premium marketing plans — before paying the restaurant. Because the commission is a percentage of the price, simply adding the commission percentage to the menu price is not enough: to keep the same profit in money terms, the menu price must be divided by (1 − commission). Food cost stays the same, so the formula only needs the in-store price and any extra packaging the delivery order uses.
Worked example
A $15.00 dish costs $4.50 in food and packaging and needs $0.50 of extra delivery packaging. At a 30% commission the app keeps $4.50, you receive $10.50 and make $5.50 instead of $10.50 in store. To keep $10.50 of profit the app price must be ($15.00 + $0.50) ÷ 0.70 = $22.14, a 47.6% increase.
Sources: Investopedia — Commission · Investopedia — Contribution margin
Frequently asked questions
How much commission do food delivery apps charge?
Most marketplace plans charge restaurants about 15% to 30% of the order subtotal, and some add payment processing of around 3%. Plans that only handle pick-up or that use your own couriers are cheaper. Check your contract — the rate in it is the number to enter.
Why is adding 30% to my price not enough?
The platform takes 30% of the new, higher price, not of the old one. A $10 dish raised 30% to $13 still loses $3.90 to a 30% commission, leaving $9.10. Dividing by 0.70 instead gives $14.29, which leaves exactly $10.
Is it legal to charge more on delivery apps than in the restaurant?
In most places restaurants are free to set different prices on delivery apps, and many do. Some platforms ask for price parity in certain plans, so read the terms before you change the menu.
Should I raise every item by the same amount?
Not necessarily. Many restaurants keep a few popular items close to the in-store price and raise high-cost items more, or create delivery-only combos with higher margins. This calculator shows the price that keeps profit equal for one item or an average order.
Related calculators
Planning estimate only — real prices, fees and results depend on your own costs, platform terms, local taxes and what your market will pay. Check the numbers against your books before you commit to a price or budget.