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Tariff Grocery Calculator: How Much Are 2026 Tariffs Costing Your Family?

Free tool·Updated September 18, 2026·2 minutes

Last updated . We revise figures when USDA, BLS or tariff notices change.

Tariff Grocery Calculator and Tariff Exposure Score cover

Key facts

Twelve questions about what goes in your cart, two numbers back: a Tariff Exposure Score from 0 to 60 and an estimate of what 2026 food tariffs add to your bill each month and each year. Then the swaps, ranked by how much each one is worth to you. We built it for our own shopping first; the first version lived in a spreadsheet on Rachel's phone.

Step 1: Your household

No sign-up needed to see your score.

Step 2: What's in your cart?

1. How often do you buy: Fresh tomatoes, avocados or berries in fall/winter (mostly imported from Mexico)?

2. How often do you buy: Coffee (ground, beans or pods)?

3. How often do you buy: Beef (ground beef, steaks, roasts)?

4. How often do you buy: Olive oil?

5. How often do you buy: Imported pasta and Italian brands?

6. How often do you buy: Imported cheeses (parmesan, brie, manchego, feta)?

7. How often do you buy: Shrimp, salmon or other imported seafood?

8. How often do you buy: Candy, chocolate and sugary snacks?

9. How often do you buy: Bananas, pineapple and tropical fruit?

10. How often do you buy: Wine, imported beer or spirits?

11. How often do you buy: Name-brand packaged goods instead of store brands?

12. How often do you buy: Shopping at one store without comparing prices?

Step 3: Your results

0
$0extra per month from tariffs
$0extra per year
$0you could save per month with the swaps below

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    How the calculator works

    Each question covers a grocery category that is either directly hit by 2026 tariffs (Mexican produce, coffee, imported olive oil, pasta, cheese, seafood, wine) or already rising fast for related supply reasons (beef, sugar). Buying a category every week scores 5 points, sometimes 3, rarely 0, for a maximum of 60. The score maps to the share of your basket that is exposed (up to about 45%), which is multiplied by the average tariff-driven increase on those items (about 12%, based on USDA 2026 forecasts) and your monthly spend.

    Treat the dollars as a planning number; they depend on your stores and brands. The ranking is the useful part. The first three swaps on the list are where most families get $40 to $80 a month back. For the full category breakdown see which foods will cost more in 2026, and for what to buy ahead of the increases read should you stockpile groceries.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    You enter your household size and monthly grocery spend, then answer 12 questions about how often you buy the food categories most exposed to 2026 tariffs. Each answer adds points to your Tariff Exposure Score (0-60). The calculator converts that score into the share of your basket that is tariff-exposed and multiplies it by the average tariff-driven price increase to estimate your extra monthly and yearly cost.
    0-15 is low exposure, 16-30 moderate, 31-45 high and 46-60 very high. Most American families of four score between 25 and 40. Every 10 points you cut is worth roughly $15-30 a month at a typical $800 grocery budget.
    It is a planning estimate, not an invoice. It uses USDA 2026 food price forecasts and published tariff schedules to assume an average 12% increase on exposed categories and up to 45% of a basket being exposed. Your real number depends on brands, stores and season, but the ranking of what to swap first is reliable.
    Yes, it is free and you see your score and cost estimate without entering anything. Email is only needed if you want the personalised swap list sent to you along with the free Tariff Exposure Cheat Sheet.

    Turn Your Score Into a Plan

    The Tariff-Proof Kitchen gives you 90 days of meal plans, 40+ budget recipes, and a complete shopping system built around these swaps. Save $200+/month starting this week.

    Get the Full Guide — $7.99

    Keep Reading

    Which Foods Will Cost More in 2026 Due to TariffsRead article → How to Cut Your Grocery Bill by $200 a Month in 2026Read article → Free: The 1-Page Tariff Exposure Cheat SheetDownload →