Calculadora de Costo Laboral para Restaurantes
Find out exactly how much you're spending on labor — and where you can save. Built for cafes, restaurants, and small businesses.
1 Tu Equipo
| Rol | Cantidad | Tarifa por Hora ($) | Horas/Semana |
|---|
2 Horas Extras y Adicionales
3 Tus Costos Laborales
Semanal
$0
Mensual
$0
Anual
$0
Desglose de Costos (Mensual)
Ahorros Potenciales
Reduce los costos laborales con una programación más inteligente
Shifty te ayuda a crear horarios de turnos rápidamente, administrar la disponibilidad de los empleados y gestionar los cambios de turno, todo desde tu teléfono.
How to Calculate Restaurant Labor Cost
Labor is typically the largest expense for restaurants and cafes, accounting for 25-35% of total revenue. Knowing your exact labor cost helps you make better scheduling decisions, set realistic budgets, and identify where you're overspending.
The Labor Cost Formula
The basic formula is straightforward:
Total Labor Cost = (Hourly Rate × Hours Worked × Number of Employees) + Overtime + Taxes & Benefits
Our calculator above does this math for you across multiple roles, factoring in overtime rates and payroll taxes. But understanding the formula helps you spot where costs can be trimmed.
What's a Healthy Labor Cost Percentage?
| Business Type | Target Labor % | High (Needs Attention) |
|---|---|---|
| Fast casual / Cafe | 25-28% | Above 30% |
| Full-service restaurant | 30-35% | Above 38% |
| Fine dining | 35-40% | Above 42% |
| Food truck / Counter | 20-25% | Above 28% |
5 Ways to Reduce Labor Costs Without Cutting Staff
- Optimize shift lengths — Match staffing levels to peak and slow hours. Don't schedule a full team for a Tuesday morning.
- Reduce overtime — Even 2 hours of overtime per employee per week adds up to thousands yearly. Our calculator shows you exactly how much.
- Cross-train employees — When baristas can also work the register, you need fewer people per shift.
- Use scheduling software — Manual scheduling leads to overstaffing and missed conflicts. Apps like Shifty optimize automatically.
- Track actual vs. scheduled hours — Employees clocking in early or staying late costs more than you think.
Stop overspending on labor
Shifty shows you labor costs in real time as you build schedules. See the impact of every shift before you publish it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of revenue should go to labor?
For most restaurants, labor should be 25-35% of gross revenue. Cafes and fast-casual spots should aim for the lower end (25-28%), while full-service restaurants typically run 30-35%.
How do I calculate labor cost per hour?
Add up all labor expenses (wages, overtime, taxes, benefits) for a period, then divide by total hours worked. For example, $12,000 in monthly labor costs ÷ 800 hours worked = $15/hour effective labor cost.
Does overtime really cost that much?
Yes. Even 2 hours of overtime per employee per week at 1.5x rate can add $5,000-$15,000 yearly depending on team size. Smart shift scheduling helps minimize overtime costs.
What's included in "total labor cost" besides wages?
Total labor cost includes base wages, overtime pay, employer payroll taxes (Social Security, Medicare — typically 7.65%), workers' compensation insurance, health benefits, paid time off, and any bonuses or tips you supplement.