Guide for Ireland
Menu price calculator with Irish VAT
5-star reviews on TrustpilotMenu price = cost ÷ (1 − target GP), then add VAT at the Irish rate for that item. Since 1 July 2026 food and non-alcoholic hot drinks served in restaurants, cafés, pubs and hotels are at 9% VAT (13.5% before), while alcohol, soft drinks and bottled water stay at 23%. Work GP out on the price excluding VAT, because the VAT is Revenue's money.
Enter what a dish or drink costs you, the GP you want, and the VAT rate. Everything runs in your browser: nothing is sent or saved.
Enter the cost.
The formula
- Net price = cost ÷ (1 − target GP). A dish costing €4.60 at a 70% target: €4.60 ÷ 0.30 = €15.33 net.
- Menu price = net price × (1 + VAT rate). At 9%: €15.33 × 1.09 = €16.71, which you might round up to €17.00.
- Check the GP at the rounded price: €17.00 ÷ 1.09 = €15.60 net, so GP is (€15.60 − €4.60) ÷ €15.60 = 70.5%.
Which Irish VAT rate?
| What you're selling | VAT rate (from 1 July 2026) |
|---|---|
| Food and non-alcoholic hot drinks served in a restaurant, café, pub or hotel | 9% (was 13.5% until 30 June 2026) |
| Hot takeaway food | 9% |
| Cold takeaway food | Generally 0% (some items differ) |
| Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water | 23% |
| Hotel accommodation | 13.5% |
The 9% rate came in on 1 July 2026 and the Government says it has no sunset clause. If you priced your menu before July, your VAT bill on food fell from 13.5% to 9%: either your GP went up, or you passed it on in prices. Run your best sellers through the calculator to see which.
Pricing is half of GP: the kitchen is the other half
A price set to 70% only delivers 70% if portions, waste and stock match the spec. That's daily discipline: deliveries checked, temperatures logged, prep and closing checks done the same way every shift. ShiftComplete gives your team those checklists and temperature logs on a phone or the shared tablet, with every tick named and timestamped, alongside the roster. It's €1.99 per active staff member a month after a free 60-day trial, no card needed.
For drinks, read how to work out GP on drinks in an Irish pub, and for the full picture see VAT rates for Irish hospitality.
Frequently asked questions
What VAT rate do restaurants charge in Ireland in 2026?
Restaurant and catering services moved from 13.5% to the second reduced rate of 9% on 1 July 2026, with no end date announced. Alcohol, soft drinks, bottled water and similar drinks stay at the standard 23% rate even when served with a meal. Hotel accommodation stays at 13.5%.
How do I take VAT off a menu price?
Divide by 1 plus the rate. A €18.00 main at 9% VAT is €18.00 ÷ 1.09 = €16.51 net. A €6.20 pint at 23% is €6.20 ÷ 1.23 = €5.04 net. Don't just knock 9% or 23% off the till price: that takes off too much.
What GP should a restaurant aim for?
There's no official figure: it depends on your rent, wages, concept and what your accountant says the business needs to cover. Set a target that pays for those costs, price every dish to it, then check the GP you actually achieve with a regular stocktake. The point of a target is consistency across the menu.
What about takeaway?
Revenue treats takeaway food as a supply of goods. Hot takeaway food is at 9% from 1 July 2026 and cold takeaway food is generally 0%, while some items such as cakes have their own rate. Check Revenue's Tax and Duty Manual for specific items.
Is this tax advice?
No. It's a pricing tool using the VAT rates published by Revenue. If you're not VAT registered you don't charge VAT, so choose 0%. Check anything unusual, such as meal deals mixing food and drink, with your accountant.
Sources
- Restaurant, catering and canteen services (Revenue)
- Current VAT rates (Revenue)
- Tax and Duty Manual: VAT Treatment of Restaurant and Catering Services (Revenue)
- Government marks reduction of VAT rate to 9% for food businesses (gov.ie)
Checked 28 October 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.