Restaurant profit margin

Sector-level margin benchmarks for restaurant/dining companies, from NYU Stern's industry margin dataset (compiled by Prof. Aswath Damodaran from public company financial filings).

Margin type	Restaurant/Dining sector average
Gross margin	32.24%
Operating margin	17.16%
Net margin	9.37%

Based on 64 publicly traded restaurant/dining companies. This dataset covers public companies with disclosed financials — it is a sector benchmark, not a survey of independent or small restaurants, which typically run thinner margins due to lower purchasing power and scale.

Sources:

Aswath Damodaran / NYU Stern — "Operating and Net Margins by Industry (US)", data as of January 2026

Check your own margin

Enter your food and labor cost per plate against your menu price to see where you land.

Cost per unit ($)

Selling price per unit ($)

Profit per unit–

Profit margin–

Markup–

What price gives me a target margin?

Cost per unit ($)

Target margin (%)

Charge – per unit.

What price gives me a target markup?

Cost per unit ($)

Target markup (%)

Charge – per unit.

For informational purposes only. This calculator and the figures on this page are general estimates, not financial, tax, legal, or professional advice. Actual results vary by business, location, and circumstances — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Benchmark data last checked August 2026; see sources cited below.