Freeze Dry Math

Calculator 09

Freeze-Dried Candy Pricing Calculator

Put in what a batch costs and how many bags it makes. You get cost per bag, profit at your price, and the price that hits a 30–60% margin.

A jar filled with candy sitting on top of a table
Photo: Christine Tan on Unsplash

Your numbers

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Readout

28 bags per batch at $6.00

Profit per bag$4.5476% of the price · $127.11 per batch
Cost per bag
$1.28
Fees per bag
$0.18
Your labor per batch
$11.25
Batch cost, all in
$35.85

Price for a target margin

30% margin
$1.91
40% margin
$2.25
50% margin
$2.72
60% margin
$3.46

Selling food from home is regulated state by state under cottage food laws. Check your state’s rules on freeze-dried candy, labels and where you may sell before pricing.

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Why candy is the money batch

Candy is the one food where a freeze dryer turns cheap inputs into a premium product in a few hours. Harvest Right notes candy batches can finish in just a few hours versus a day or more for food, so electricity per batch is small and you can run several batches a day. That is why so many owners end up selling it.

The costs that sneak up are packaging and time. A stand-up pouch, a printed label and an oxygen absorber or desiccant can cost more than the candy inside. Bagging, sealing and labeling 30 pouches takes real time. Count both, or you will price too low.

Fees by where you sell

  • Card reader at a market: usually around 2.5–3% per tap, plus the booth fee per day. Spread the booth fee over the bags you expect to sell and add it as “fixed fee per sale”.
  • Online marketplaces: listing, transaction and payment fees combined often reach 10% or more, plus a fixed amount per order. Shipping fragile candy also costs more than people expect.
  • Cash: no fee, but count it the same way for a fair comparison.

Candy that works

Not every candy puffs. See our notes on each before you buy in bulk:

  • Skittles: Skittles are the candy that started the freeze-dried candy trend.
  • Salt water taffy: Salt water taffy puffs more than almost any other candy, turning into big, crunchy clouds.
  • Marshmallows: Marshmallows puff, then set into crunchy, cereal-style marshmallows.
  • Jolly Ranchers and hard candy: Hard candy only puffs when the shelves are hot enough to soften it.
  • Gummy bears: Some gummies puff into crunchy clouds and some just turn hard.
  • Candy bars: Nougat and caramel bars like Milky Way and Snickers puff into crunchy bites.
  • Cheesecake: Cheesecake bites turn into crunchy, rich treats.

Rules to check before selling

Selling food made at home is regulated by state cottage food laws. Requirements commonly cover registration or a permit, labels listing ingredients and allergens, where you may sell, and annual sales limits. Some states treat freeze-dried products specially. Check your state agency before you set up a table. This calculator only does the arithmetic.

Questions people ask

How much should I charge for freeze-dried candy?

Work up from cost. Add the candy, bag, label, absorber and electricity per bag, then your time and payment fees, and choose a margin. The calculator shows the price for 30–60% margins. Check local markets too: prices there tell you what buyers will pay.

How many bags does a batch make?

It depends on the candy and bag size. Puffed candy takes up much more space than it did before, so bags fill by volume. Weigh a few full bags from your first batch and use that number.

Do I need a license to sell freeze-dried candy?

Rules are set by each state under cottage food laws, and some require registration, labels with ingredients and allergens, or limit where you can sell. Check with your state department of agriculture or health before selling.

Can I use brand names on my labels?

Using brand names and logos on products you sell can raise trademark issues. Many sellers describe the candy generically, such as “freeze-dried fruit chews”. If you plan to sell at scale, get advice specific to your situation.

Sources

  1. Harvest Right: candy finishes in a few hours (operating costs)
  2. Utah State University Extension: Freeze-drying food at home, tips for safe results

Figures checked 2026-10-21. How we check them. Spot something off for your machine? Tell us.