Meal kits promise to save you time and cut food waste - but at a price. So are they actually worth it? The honest answer is that it depends on what you value, and how you use them. Use the calculator to see what a kit would really cost you, then read on for when they pay off and when they do not.
Meal kit figure uses full price per portion plus about £4.99 delivery, before any first-box discount. The supermarket figure assumes roughly £2.75 per portion to cook similar meals yourself - a guide, not a guarantee.
What meal kits actually cost
At full price, mainstream meal kits work out at roughly £4 to £7 a portion plus delivery - more than cooking the same meals from a budget supermarket, where you might spend £2.50 to £3.50 a portion. So on raw ingredients, a meal kit is not the cheapest way to eat. The first-box discounts (up to 60-70% off) make the first few weeks great value, but judge a kit on its full price, because that is what you pay long term.
When meal kits are worth it
- You waste food or order takeaways. If half your veg goes off, or you spend £25 on a midweek takeaway, a kit can genuinely save money - it removes the waste and the temptation.
- You are time-poor. No meal planning, no shopping, no "what's for dinner". For busy households, the hours saved are the real value.
- You want to cook more. Kits are a low-risk way to learn, with clear recipes and exact portions.
- You eat to a specific diet. A gluten-free or vegan kit removes the label-reading and planning that diet otherwise demands.
When they are not worth it
- You already shop and cook efficiently. If you batch-cook and rarely waste food, the supermarket is cheaper.
- You are on a tight budget. Pound for pound, meal kits cost more than careful supermarket shopping.
- You only want the first-box discount. That is fine - just plan to cancel before full price kicks in, which you can do any time.
- You want zero cooking. Then a ready-meal service suits you better.
How to make a meal kit worth it
If you do go for one: pick larger boxes (cheaper per portion), use the first-box discount, skip weeks you do not need, and treat it as replacing takeaways and waste rather than your whole shop. See our best value picks, or compare the two biggest kits in Gousto vs HelloFresh.
Frequently asked questions
Are meal kits cheaper than supermarket shopping?
No, not on ingredients alone - meal kits cost more per portion than cooking the same meals from a budget supermarket. They can save money overall if they replace takeaways or cut food waste.
Are meal kits worth it for one person?
They are less cost-effective for one, because small boxes have a higher price per portion. If you value the convenience and reduced waste they can still be worth it; for pure cost, cooking from the supermarket is cheaper.
Do meal kits really save time?
Yes - they remove meal planning and shopping, which is where most of the time goes. The cooking still takes 20 to 40 minutes, similar to cooking from scratch.