{ "slug": "craft-cider-batch-cost", "title": "Craft Cider Batch Cost Calculator", "heading": "Craft Cider Batch Cost Calculator", "category": "financial", "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/craft-cider-batch-cost", "summary": "Cost per bottle or can for a cider batch from apple juice through packaging.", "description": "Cidermakers face a similar cost structure to small breweries but with juice cost instead of grain bill, and fermentation loss and racking loss that behave differently than beer due to higher typical sediment volume from unfiltered juice. This calculator takes juice cost per gallon, batch volume, fermentation and racking loss, and packaging cost to compute cost per bottle or per 16oz can, letting cidermakers sourcing juice from different orchards or juice blends compare true cost impact of a juice price change, not just intuition about which juice 'seems' more expensive. It also separates fixed packaging cost (bottles, caps, labels or cans, lids) from juice cost so you can quickly see which side of the recipe is driving cost when juice prices swing seasonally after a bad apple harvest.", "formula": "Net gallons = batch gallons × (1 − loss%). Units = net gallons × 128 ÷ container oz. Cost/unit = (juice cost + packaging cost×units + labor) ÷ units.", "dateModified": "2026-09-30", "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=craft-cider-batch-cost", "inputs": [ { "id": "batchGal", "label": "Batch volume (juice in)", "kind": "number", "hint": null, "default": 55, "unit": "gal", "min": 1, "max": null }, { "id": "juiceCostGal", "label": "Juice cost per gallon", "kind": "number", "hint": null, "default": 4.5, "unit": "$", "min": 0, "max": null }, { "id": "lossPct", "label": "Fermentation & racking loss", "kind": "number", "hint": null, "default": 10, "unit": "%", "min": 0, "max": 40 }, { "id": "containerOz", "label": "Package size", "kind": "select", "hint": null, "default": "16", "options": [ { "value": "12", "label": "12oz bottle/can" }, { "value": "16", "label": "16oz can" }, { "value": "22", "label": "22oz bottle" } ] }, { "id": "packagingUnit", "label": "Packaging cost per unit", "kind": "number", "hint": null, "default": 0.55, "unit": "$", "min": 0, "max": null }, { "id": "laborCost", "label": "Total labor cost for batch", "kind": "number", "hint": null, "default": 140, "unit": "$", "min": 0, "max": null } ], "outputs": [ { "id": "costPerUnit", "label": "Cost per unit", "format": "currency", "hint": null, "primary": true }, { "id": "units", "label": "Units produced", "format": "number", "hint": null, "primary": false }, { "id": "totalCost", "label": "Total batch cost", "format": "currency", "hint": null, "primary": false }, { "id": "juiceCost", "label": "Juice cost portion", "format": "currency", "hint": null, "primary": false } ], "worked_example": { "inputs": [ "Batch volume (juice in): 55 gal", "Juice cost per gallon: 4.5 $", "Fermentation & racking loss: 10 %", "Package size: 16oz can", "Packaging cost per unit: 0.55 $", "Total labor cost for batch: 140 $" ], "outputs": [ "Cost per unit: $1.529", "Units produced: 396", "Total batch cost: $605.30", "Juice cost portion: $247.50" ] }, "how_to": { "title": "How to use this", "steps": [ "Enter batch volume (juice in) (gal).", "Enter juice cost per gallon ($).", "Enter fermentation & racking loss (%).", "Enter package size.", "Enter packaging cost per unit ($).", "Enter total labor cost for batch ($).", "Read your cost per unit on the right — it updates as you type.", "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone." ] }, "scenarios": [ { "name": "Conservative", "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?", "values": { "batchGal": 33, "juiceCostGal": 2.6999999999999997, "lossPct": 6, "containerOz": "16", "packagingUnit": 0.33, "laborCost": 80 } }, { "name": "Typical", "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.", "values": { "batchGal": 55, "juiceCostGal": 4.5, "lossPct": 10, "containerOz": "16", "packagingUnit": 0.55, "laborCost": 140 } }, { "name": "Ambitious", "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?", "values": { "batchGal": 88, "juiceCostGal": 7.2, "lossPct": 16, "containerOz": "16", "packagingUnit": 0.8800000000000001, "laborCost": 220 } } ], "limitations": [ "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.", "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.", "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant." ], "faq": [ { "q": "Why is cider racking loss often higher than beer?", "a": "Unfiltered fresh-pressed apple juice carries more suspended sediment (pectin, pulp) than wort, so more volume is left behind during racking off the lees unless the cidermaker uses pectic enzyme and cold-settling to clarify before fermentation. Loss of 10-15% is common for rustic, unfiltered ciders versus 5-8% for a filtered commercial process." }, { "q": "How much does juice source affect cost?", "a": "Juice cost can range from $2-3/gallon for standard culinary apple juice blends up to $8-12/gallon for single-varietal heirloom or bittersharp cider apple juice sourced from dedicated cider orchards. That swing alone can double your ingredient cost per unit, which is why this calculator isolates juice cost from packaging and labor." }, { "q": "Does this account for federal excise tax on cider?", "a": "No — hard cider under 7% ABV and meeting specific carbonation and ingredient rules qualifies for a distinct, lower federal excise tax rate than beer or wine, calculated per wine gallon. Add that separately once you know your finished ABV and carbonation level, since it depends on TTB classification rules." } ], "related": [ "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/brewery-batch-cost-barrel", "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/mead-batch-cost" ], "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "citation": "RevenueLab — Craft Cider Batch Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/craft-cider-batch-cost)" }