Staffing & Labor Cost Calculator
Determine whether to cut or keep floor and kitchen staff during slow shift periods. Track real-time Sales Per Labor Hour (SPLH), protect target labor percentages, and eliminate overtime creep.
Adjust hourly register pace and staff on the clock. Labor % and cut recommendations update live below.
Live Shift Register & Clock Data
3.5 hrs remainingLabor is currently at 36.5% (2.5% above your 34% target). Sales velocity of $380/hr cannot sustain 7 workers on the clock.
The 1.5x Time-and-a-Half Penalty
When an hourly cook or server crosses 40 hours in a work week, their effective wage spikes from $19/hr to $28/hr.
Cross-train part-time team members to absorb extra shifts before letting full-time staff drift into unscheduled overtime.
Step 2: Live Calculated Shift Advisory & Efficiency Metrics
Dynamic Real-Time OutputHow to use this calculator
This calculator shows your labor cost right now as a share of sales, your sales per labor hour (SPLH), and how many people you need on shift to hit your target.
- Enter sales per hour right now (or for the hour you want to check).
- Enter front- and back-of-house staff on shift and their average hourly wage, including payroll taxes.
- Add anyone on overtime and the hours left in the shift.
- Compare labor cost with your target and use the suggested staff level as a guide, not a rule.
What’s a good number?
Labor cost: the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 median was 36.5% of sales for full-service and 31.7% for limited-service restaurants. Common targets are 25–30% for quick-service and 30–35% for full-service.
Check labor by the hour, not only by the week. A good week can hide expensive slow hours.
Worked example
An example slow evening hour. The figures are invented; the results are what this calculator gives for them.
| Sales this hour | $700 |
|---|---|
| Staff on shift | 6 front, 4 back |
| Average wage incl. payroll taxes | $20 |
| On overtime | 1 |
| Target labor cost | 25% |
| Labor cost this hour | $210 (30% of sales) |
|---|---|
| Sales per labor hour | $70 |
| Staff that hits the target | 9 |
| Saved over the last 4 hours | $80 |
At 30%, this hour is over the 25% target. Sending 1 person home early saves $80 tonight.
Common questions
How do I calculate labor cost percentage?
Divide total labor cost (wages, overtime, payroll taxes and benefits) by sales for the same period and multiply by 100.
What is sales per labor hour (SPLH)?
Sales divided by the hours worked by staff in that period. It shows how much each hour of labor brings in, and is useful for comparing shifts and days.
Should I always cut to the suggested staff level?
No. It is a guide. Keep enough people to serve guests well, cover breaks and handle a late rush. The calculator never suggests fewer than two people on shift.
Every formula and assumption is on How we calculate.
Was this useful?
Labor cost right now
36.5% of sales
Suggested staff cuts
Trim hours or overtime