How Much Food Are You
Actually Wasting?
The average household throws away $1,500 in food every year. Enter your habits below and find out your number — and how much you could save.
Your Household
Your Cooking & Shopping Habits
How often do you cook at home?
Do you meal plan?
How often do items expire before you use them?
Your produce freshness habits
Your Food Waste Estimate
You waste about
$2,444/year
in food (31% of your grocery spend)
With Tablespoon
$1,499/year
38% less waste
Annual savings
$945 saved
$202/month · $47/week currently wasted
US Average: The average American household wastes $1,500/year in food — roughly 30–40% of groceries (USDA data). You waste $944 more than average.
Get our free Food Waste Reduction Guide
Practical habits that cut food waste by 38%. Free, no spam.
Tablespoon tracks your groceries and tells you exactly what to use before it expires
Stop throwing away money. Start cooking smarter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much food does the average American household waste?
According to USDA data, the average American household wastes approximately $1,500 worth of food per year — roughly 30–40% of their total grocery spend. That works out to nearly 20 lbs of food thrown away per person each month.
What causes the most food waste at home?
The three biggest drivers of household food waste are: overbuying (purchasing more than you can realistically use), poor meal planning (not knowing what you'll cook so items sit unused), and not tracking what you have (forgetting about items until they expire). A simple inventory system addresses all three.
How much can meal planning reduce food waste?
Studies show that households with structured meal planning waste 20–40% less food than those who shop and cook spontaneously. The key is planning meals around what you already have and building a grocery list that targets only what you actually need.
How accurate is this calculator?
This calculator uses the US national average waste rate of 20% as a baseline and adjusts based on your cooking habits, meal planning frequency, and how often items expire. The 38% Tablespoon reduction is based on the typical range seen in households that track inventory and plan meals consistently.
Also try: Meal Cost Calculator → · Browse all free tools →