How Much Do Factor Meals Cost?

Updated on August 1, 2026 | Written by Alec Pow
This article was researched using 8 sources. See our methodology and corrections policy.

Factor meals currently cost approximately $12.49 to $14.99 per meal before shipping, sales tax, premium upgrades, and add-ons. The price per meal falls as the number of weekly meals increases.

Shipping commonly adds $10.99 to $13.99 per box, depending on the delivery address and current checkout terms. After spreading delivery across the order, the effective ongoing price is approximately $13.27 to $17.32 per meal.

A six-meal order may cost around $104 delivered, while 10 meals can cost approximately $154 and 18 meals around $239. These are planning estimates before sales tax, premium menu items, breakfasts, snacks, shakes, or extra proteins.

Article Highlights

• Factor meals cost approximately $12.49 to $14.99 (at $30 per hour, earning that amount would take about 25 to 30 minutes, before taxes) each before delivery.
• Shipping commonly costs $10.99 to $13.99 per weekly box.
• A six-meal box costs about $104 delivered.
• A 10-meal box costs about $154 delivered.
• An 18-meal box costs about $239 delivered.
• The introductory offer currently includes 50% off the first box.
• Boxes two through five receive an advertised 20% discount.
• Premium meals, upgrades, add-ons, shipping, and taxes may not receive the promotional discount.

How Much Do Factor Meals Cost?

Meals per week	Estimated meal price	Meal subtotal	Estimated total with $13.99 (about 28 minutes at $30 per hour) shipping
6 meals	$14.99	$89.94	$103.93
8 meals	About $14.49	About $115.92	About $129.91
10 meals	About $13.99	About $139.90	About $153.89
12 meals	About $13.49	About $161.88	About $175.87
14 meals	About $12.99	About $181.86	About $195.85
18 meals	$12.49	$224.82	$238.81

Factor confirms that customers can select 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 18 meals per week. Exact prices should be checked using the delivery ZIP code because promotions, shipping charges, plan pricing, and menu upgrades can change.

Recent independent testing places regular Factor pricing at approximately $12.49 to $14.99 per meal. The prices in the table are therefore reasonable planning figures rather than guaranteed checkout quotes.

Effective Delivered Cost

The advertised meal price excludes delivery. A fixed shipping charge affects smaller orders more heavily because it is divided among fewer meals.

With $13.99 (about 28 minutes at $30 per hour) shipping:

• Six meals receive another $2.33 in delivery cost per meal.
• Ten meals receive another $1.40 per meal.
• Eighteen meals receive another $0.78 per meal.

The effective delivered prices become:

• Six-meal plan: $17.32 per meal
• Ten-meal plan: $15.39 per meal
• Eighteen-meal plan: $13.27 per meal

Ordering more meals lowers the delivered unit cost, but it saves money only when every meal is eaten. Throwing away one or two meals can erase the bulk-order advantage.

Current Factor Promotion

Factor currently advertises 50% off the first box, followed by 20% off boxes two through five. New subscribers may also receive one eligible breakfast item in each box for one year while the qualifying subscription remains active.

The offer requires an auto-renewing subscription. Factor states that discounts can vary by plan size and that the promotion does not apply to premiums, meal upgrades, add-ons, taxes, or other charges unless the checkout terms specifically say otherwise.

Canceling the subscription ends the free-breakfast offer. Factor says the benefit will not be restored if the customer later reactivates the account.

First Five Boxes Example

Consider a customer ordering 10 meals per week at an estimated regular meal subtotal of $139.90 and paying $13.99 for shipping.

Delivery	Meal charge after discount	Shipping	Estimated total
First box, 50% off	$69.95	$13.99	$83.94
Second box, 20% off	$111.92	$13.99	$125.91
Third box, 20% off	$111.92	$13.99	$125.91
Fourth box, 20% off	$111.92	$13.99	$125.91
Fifth box, 20% off	$111.92	$13.99	$125.91
Sixth box at regular price	$139.90	$13.99	$153.89

The first five boxes cost approximately $587.58 before tax. Without the promotion, those same five deliveries would cost about $769.45.

The advertised promotion saves approximately $181.87 during the first five weeks. After the discount expires, the weekly bill rises from about $125.91 to $153.89, an increase of 22.2%.

Annual Factor Cost

A customer receiving 10 meals every week at the estimated regular delivered price would spend:

$153.89 × 52 weeks = $8,002.28 per year

Of that total:

• Meals cost approximately $7,274.80.
• Shipping costs approximately $727.48.

Sales tax, premium meals, breakfasts, snacks, drinks, extra proteins, and other add-ons would increase the annual expense.

Using the current first-five-box promotion reduces the first-year planning total to approximately $7,820.41. The discount is meaningful, but the household still spends nearly $8,000 for 520 prepared meals.

What Factor Meals Include

Factor delivers individual, fully prepared meals that generally require about two minutes in a microwave. Customers do not need to shop for ingredients, follow recipes, or clean pots and pans.

Factor currently advertises more than 100 weekly meals and add-on options. That count can include entrées, breakfasts, snacks, smoothies, shakes, extra proteins, and other products rather than 100 complete dinner entrées.

Available preferences include categories such as High Protein, Calorie Smart, Keto, and other selections shown during menu customization. The available dishes change each week.

Choosing a preference helps organize recommendations but does not prevent customers from selecting meals from other categories.

Shipping Cost

Shipping commonly costs between $10.99 and $13.99 per delivery. A recent Factor review reported $10.99 for the first box and $13.99 for later deliveries.

The checkout page for the delivery address is the final source of the applicable charge. Shipping can vary with promotions, location, plan, and current company policy.

Weekly shipping at $13.99 costs:

• $55.96 across four deliveries
• $181.87 across 13 deliveries
• $727.48 across 52 deliveries

Skipping unused weeks prevents both the meal charge and delivery fee, provided the change is completed before the account deadline.

Sales Tax

Sales tax is calculated according to the delivery address and the applicable treatment of prepared meals, delivery charges, beverages, supplements, and other products.

A universal tax estimate of 5% to 10% is not reliable because states and local jurisdictions apply different rules. Some food products may be exempt while prepared meals or add-ons remain taxable.

Review the tax shown during checkout before calculating the exact weekly or annual bill.

Premium Meals and Add-Ons

The normal meal allowance does not necessarily cover every item on the menu. Premium entrées, larger portions, meal upgrades, and selected proteins may carry an added charge.

Factor also offers optional products such as:

• Breakfasts
• Protein shakes
• Smoothies
• Cold-pressed juices
• Snacks
• Extra chicken, beef, or seafood
• Side dishes
• Supplement products

The official Factor keto-delivery page currently advertises more than 70 add-on options across these categories.

Premiums and add-ons can turn a $154 weekly box into a $175 to $200+ order. Remove preselected extras before checkout when they are not needed.

Factor vs Cooking at Home

Cooking at home usually costs less per serving, especially when ingredients are bought in larger quantities and used across several meals.

Consider a 10-meal week:

• Factor delivered cost: About $153.89
• Home-cooked meals at $5 each: About $50
• Difference: About $103.89 per week

Factor would cost approximately $5,402 more per year than 10 weekly home-cooked meals averaging $5 each.

The customer is paying for portioning, recipe development, cooking, packaging, cold shipping, reduced cleanup, and saved time. Whether that convenience is worth the premium depends on the household.

Factor vs Takeout

Factor can cost less than restaurant delivery after menu prices, service fees, delivery charges, tax, and tips are included.

A takeout entrée with a listed price of $18 may cost $25 to $30 after fees and gratuity. A regularly priced Factor meal costs approximately $13.27 to $17.32 delivered before tax and add-ons.

Factor is therefore positioned between home cooking and takeout. It is generally more expensive than groceries but can be cheaper than ordering individual restaurant meals.

Factor vs HelloFresh

Factor and HelloFresh are owned by the same parent company, but they provide different products.

Factor meals arrive fully prepared and are sold as individual servings. HelloFresh primarily delivers ingredients and recipes that require preparation, cooking, and cleanup.

HelloFresh can have a lower listed cost per serving, especially for larger households. That comparison does not account for preparation time, cooking effort, or the possibility that a recipe produces multiple portions.

Readers comparing the two services can review the full cost of HelloFresh, including shipping and plan size.

Factor vs Other Prepared Meals

A fair comparison should use active prepared-meal services and include shipping. Freshly should no longer appear in a current competitor table because it ended its direct-to-consumer prepared-meal subscription.

Factor competes more directly with services such as CookUnity, Territory Foods, Tempo, Trifecta, and other refrigerated or frozen prepared-meal companies. Availability and delivery charges vary by ZIP code.

Compare:

• Delivered price per meal
• Minimum weekly order
• Menu size
• Premium-item charges
• Nutrition and allergen information
• Delivery area
• Ability to pause or cancel

A service advertising a lower meal price may become more expensive after delivery or may require a larger order.

Nutrition and Dietary Choices

Factor markets meals for several eating preferences, but no prepared-meal service should be described as universally healthy. Calories, sodium, saturated fat, protein, fiber, allergens, and ingredients differ by entrée.

Factor’s Calorie Smart category currently contains meals with approximately 550 calories or fewer. That label does not establish whether a meal fits an individual customer’s total nutritional needs.

High Protein and Keto selections can help customers locate meals aligned with specific goals. Customers managing kidney disease, diabetes, food allergies, cardiovascular conditions, or medically prescribed diets should review each nutrition label and consult an appropriate healthcare professional.

Plant-based availability may be limited in some weeks. Review the live menu before subscribing rather than assuming that a large vegan selection will always be available.

Portion Size

Factor meals are individually portioned. One tray may be adequate for one person but insufficient for someone with higher energy needs, a large appetite, or substantial physical activity.

A customer who routinely adds fruit, bread, salad, extra protein, or another side should include those groceries in the effective meal cost.

For example, adding $3 of supplementary food to a six-meal plan increases its effective cost from approximately $17.32 to $20.32 per meal.

Storage and Use-By Dates

Factor meals are delivered refrigerated rather than as conventional frozen dinners. Store them promptly and follow the use-by date printed on each package.

Do not assume that every meal remains suitable for exactly seven days after delivery. Delivery day, recipe, packaging, refrigerator temperature, and the printed date determine the usable period.

Some customers freeze meals they cannot eat on time, but freezing can affect sauces, vegetables, dairy ingredients, and overall texture. Follow package instructions and Factor’s current guidance for the specific meal.

Skipping and Canceling

Factor uses automatic weekly renewal. Customers continue receiving and paying for boxes unless they skip, pause, change, or cancel the subscription before the applicable cutoff.

Factor says customers can change their delivery date, skip a week, or cancel. Its current subscription cancellation guidance explains the available account controls.

The exact deadline can depend on the delivery schedule. Use the date displayed in the account rather than assuming a universal day and time.

Canceling after the order has been processed may not stop the next box or produce a refund.

Hidden Costs

• Weekly shipping
• Sales tax
• Premium entrées
• Meal upgrades
• Breakfasts and snacks
• Shakes and smoothies
• Extra proteins and sides
• Supplement products
• Food added to small portions
• Meals discarded after their use-by date
• Boxes ordered after a missed skip deadline
• Higher prices after introductory discounts expire

The difference between the promotional price and ongoing price is the most important hidden expense. Judge affordability using the normal sixth-box cost, not only the heavily discounted first delivery.

How to Spend Less

Use the introductory offer only after reviewing the ongoing price. Set a reminder before the next menu-selection and billing deadline.

Select a larger plan only when the household can eat or safely store every meal. The unit price falls with order size, but food waste makes a larger box more expensive.

Remove premium meals and add-ons before finalizing the order. Compare the price of optional breakfasts, snacks, and shakes with local grocery alternatives.

Skip travel weeks and weeks when restaurant plans or leftovers will reduce demand. Keep several lower-cost frozen meals at home so convenience does not require a full Factor delivery every week.

Customers comparing flexible grocery-based subscriptions can also review the cost of Hungryroot.

Who Gets the Best Value?

Factor may provide good value for one- or two-person households that frequently buy takeout, have little time to cook, want individually labeled nutrition information, or need prepared lunches for work.

It provides less financial value for larger families, skilled meal preppers, people who enjoy cooking, customers with small food budgets, or households that regularly need more than one tray per person.

The service can also make sense temporarily during a busy work period, relocation, recovery, or other situation when convenience has unusual value. A weekly subscription does not need to become a permanent annual expense.

What We Verified

• Checked the current regular price range per meal.
• Confirmed the available 6- to 18-meal plan sizes.
• Reviewed current shipping estimates.
• Verified the 50% first-box and 20% boxes two-through-five promotion.
• Confirmed the conditions of the free-breakfast offer.
• Reviewed current meal preferences and add-on categories.
• Removed the discontinued Freshly subscription comparison.
• Removed unverifiable customer quotations and broad health claims.

Answers to Common Questions

How much does Factor cost per meal?

Factor meals cost approximately $12.49 to $14.99 each before shipping, tax, premium upgrades, and add-ons.

How much is Factor for one week?

A weekly box costs approximately $104 for six meals, $154 for 10 meals, or $239 for 18 meals after adding estimated $13.99 shipping.

How much is Factor shipping?

Shipping commonly costs $10.99 to $13.99 per box. The amount shown during checkout for the delivery address is the applicable price.

Does Factor offer a free trial?

Factor does not normally offer a completely free trial. Its current promotion discounts the first five boxes, beginning with 50% off the meal charge for the first box.

Is Factor cheaper than cooking?

No, in most cases. Factor usually costs considerably more than cooking from groceries but may cost less than frequent restaurant delivery.

Can Factor weeks be skipped?

Yes. Customers can skip deliveries through their accounts before the displayed cutoff.

Are Factor meals frozen?

Factor markets its prepared meals as delivered fresh and refrigerated rather than frozen. Customers should follow the printed use-by date and storage instructions.

Is Factor difficult to cancel?

Customers can cancel through their accounts, but the request must be completed before the next order cutoff to prevent another box from processing.