How Cheap Is Homemade Pizza Really?
Homemade pizza is one of the highest-value meals you can make from scratch. The ingredients for a full 12-inch pizza using store-bought flour, canned tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, and basic toppings cost $4 to $8. A comparable pizza from a delivery chain runs $14 to $22 with fees and tip. That is a savings of $10 to $15 per pizza, or $1 to $2 per slice.
If your family eats pizza twice a month, that is a potential annual saving of $240 to $360 just from switching to homemade. And homemade pizza is almost always better than frozen, competitive with delivery, and endlessly customizable.
Where the Cost Goes in a Homemade Pizza
- Dough: Scratch dough costs $0.30 to $0.60 per pizza in flour, yeast, oil, and salt. It takes about 10 minutes to mix and 1 to 2 hours to rise. Premade dough balls from the grocery store run $2 to $4 but save the rise time.
- Sauce: A can of crushed San Marzano tomatoes costs $2 to $4 and covers 3 to 4 pizzas, making the sauce contribution about $0.50 to $1.00 per pizza. A jar of pre-made marinara costs $2 to $4 and yields 2 to 3 pizzas.
- Cheese: The biggest cost. A pizza uses 6 to 8 ounces of mozzarella, typically costing $1.50 to $3.00. Buying an 8-oz block and shredding it yourself is 30 percent cheaper than pre-shredded.
- Toppings: Pepperoni, sausage, vegetables, and mushrooms add $0.50 to $3.00 depending on quantity and type.
Tips to Cut Cost Further
- Make dough in bulk and freeze individual dough balls. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Buy mozzarella in bulk blocks and shred yourself.
- Use canned whole tomatoes crushed by hand for sauce. They are cheaper and taste better than most jarred sauces.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to make homemade pizza?
A typical homemade pizza using store-bought ingredients costs $3 to $8 in materials for the whole pizza, or roughly $0.50 to $1.50 per slice. Compared to delivery pizza at $2 to $4 per slice, homemade pizza saves 50 to 70 percent.
Is making pizza dough from scratch cheaper than buying premade dough?
Yes. Homemade pizza dough costs about $0.30 to $0.60 in ingredients. Premade refrigerated dough runs $3 to $5 per ball. Scratch dough is 5 to 10 times cheaper per pizza and takes about 10 minutes of active work with 1 to 2 hours of hands-off rise time.
What is the biggest cost in homemade pizza?
Cheese is typically the highest-cost ingredient in a homemade pizza, accounting for 40 to 60 percent of the total ingredient cost. A pizza uses 6 to 8 oz of mozzarella, which costs $1.50 to $3.00 depending on quality and whether you buy shredded or fresh.
How do I get a crispy homemade pizza crust?
Preheat your oven as hot as it will go, ideally 500 to 550 degrees Fahrenheit, for at least 45 minutes with a pizza stone, baking steel, or heavy sheet pan inside. The preheated surface is the key to a crispy bottom. Thin dough on a hot surface gives you a restaurant-quality crust.
How long does homemade pizza dough last?
Homemade dough keeps in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days in an oiled, covered bowl. It freezes well for up to 3 months. Thaw frozen dough balls in the refrigerator overnight, then let them come to room temperature for 1 to 2 hours before stretching.