Meal Kit Cost Calculator

How the calculator works

We use the real per-meal price published by each service for their 2-person × 3-meals plan (the most common subscription). Then we layer in actual shipping costs and the intro promo if there is one. The annual figure assumes you stay on the plan for 52 weeks without skipping boxes, which is rare in practice. If you skip boxes regularly, expect 30 to 40 percent off the annual number.

What is and isn't included in the cost

Included: the meal cost itself, shipping, and any visible recurring fees. Not included: optional add-ons (premium proteins, desserts, snack add-ons), one-time gift fees, taxes (varies by state), and the value of your time prepping the kit. For prep-time tradeoffs, see the filter tool which lets you cap by prep minutes.

Which meal kit is cheapest in 2026?

For baseline pricing, Dinnerly is cheapest at $3.99 per serving on family plans of 12+ meals. EveryPlate follows at $4.99 per serving. Home Chef and HelloFresh both drop to $5.99 per serving on family plans. For premade meals (no cooking), Factor is cheapest at $11.49 per serving on the 18-meal plan, and CookUnity at $10.39 per serving on the 16-meal plan.

Which meal kit has the best value

Value depends on what you compare. For raw cost per meal: Dinnerly. For cost per gram of protein: Factor or Trifecta. For cost per calorie (most food for the money): see our calorie-per-dollar comparison. For lowest first-box cost with intro promos applied: EveryPlate at $1.49 per serving on the intro.

Are intro discounts factored in

The calculator shows full per-meal baseline pricing, not intro discounts. Most services discount the first 4 to 5 boxes by 30 to 60 percent, so your real first-month cost will be 30 to 60 percent below what the calculator shows. After box 5 to 6 you're paying the baseline number. See the coupons hub for current 2026 intro values.

How shipping costs work

Most services charge $9.99 to $10.99 per delivery, regardless of plan size. This means larger plans (12 meals vs 6 meals) get more efficient on shipping. Some services waive shipping on the first box (HelloFresh, Home Chef, Sun Basket), and a few include shipping in the per-meal price (CookUnity, Sakara). The calculator accounts for both.

FAQ

Do I really pay this much per year?
The annual figure assumes 52 weeks of unskipped boxes. Real subscribers typically skip 6 to 12 weeks per year (travel, leftovers, etc.), bringing actual annual cost 15 to 25 percent lower.

Can I switch plan sizes after I subscribe?
Yes. Every major service lets you change meals-per-week and people-per-meal on any future delivery, usually with 5 to 7 days notice before the cutoff.

Does the calculator include taxes?
No. State sales tax on meal kits varies (some states exempt groceries, others don't). Expect 0 to 9 percent on top of the calculated cost depending on your state.

What if I find a better promo than what's shown?
Use the coupons hub to find current 2026 promos. The calculator shows baseline pricing so you can compare like-for-like. Stack the best promo on top.