It is much cheaper to make gluten-free bread at home from scratch. Making gluten-free bread at home costs 7.09$ per loaf with recipe and ingredients in the table below. Store-bought prepackaged gluten-free bread prices vary between 0.28-0.66$ per ounce, whereas homemade bread costs only 0.25$ per ounce to make it from scratch. Homemade gluten-free bread is, on average, 35% cheaper than prepackaged store-bought bread and, on average, 40% cheaper than if you use a bread mix and make bread in a bread maker.
| Is it cheaper to make gluten-free bread at home from scratch or buy it in a store | ||||
| Average price store-bought per oz | Price homemade from scratch | Difference | Homemade cheaper | |
| Schar Gluten-Free Artisan Baker White Bread | $0.66 | $0.25 | $0.41 | 62% |
| Canyon Bakehouse 7 Grain San Juan Bread, Gluten-Free | $0.30 | $0.25 | $0.05 | 17% |
| Katz Gluten-Free Bread | $0.28 | $0.25 | $0.03 | 11% |
| Eban’s Bakehouse Fresh Baked Gluten-Free | $0.40 | $0.25 | $0.15 | 38% |
| Ener-G Foods Tapioca Loaf | $0.41 | $0.25 | $0.16 | 39% |
| Glutino Gluten Free Seeded Bread | $0.37 | $0.25 | $0.12 | 33% |
| Three Bakers Gluten Free | $0.64 | $0.25 | $0.39 | 61% |
| Cheaper average | 37% | |||
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In general, cooking at home is cheaper than eating out. Check out how to save from 1720$ to 4303$ with homemade food.
How much does it cost to make gluten-gluten free bread at home from scratch
Gluten-free bread requires many more ingredients than plain bread, making it more expensive than plain white bread. You can check costs for the 6 most common bread types in our “Is It Cheaper To Make Your Own Bread At Home” post. Making plain white bread at home from scratch costs 1.7$ for 24 oz (680g) loaf, whereas making 28 oz (806 g) gluten-free bread cost 7.09$.
How is the price for homemade gluten-free bread calculated
The recipe we took for calculation is popular among the gluten-free community.
- Measurement to grams: we converted each measurement (tbsp, cup, tsp…) into grams to get the sum weight of ingredients for an unbaked loaf of gluten-free bread.
- Average ingredient prices: for each ingredient, we checked the latest prices in online stores and calculated the average price.
- Price per ingredient: the price for each ingredient is calculated by multiplying the ingredient’s average price and the amount used in the recipe.
- Sum weight unbaked: to get the loaf’s total weight, we summed all ingredients in grams.
- Sum weight baked: each bread losses moisture in the baking process. That is why the percentage of total ingredient weight was taken from the sum weight of unbaked bread. This is how we got the end weight of baked gluten-free bread loaf.
- Electricity cost: we calculated electricity cost if the bread would be baked in an oven. Ovens use 1000 to 5000 watts, with an average modern oven using around 2400 watts on medium to high heat. The calculation also includes the average electricity rate in the USA which is 13.19$ per kilowatt-hour (updated April 2020)
- Time cost: We did not include time cost into the calculation.
I’ve written a complete “is it cheaper” analysis of the most popular foods cooks make at home.
(BREAD, PIZZA, PASTA, FRIES, BEEF JERKY, LASAGNA, CHEESECAKE, GRANOLA BARS, GLUTEN-FREE BREAD, MAYONNAISE, GNOCCHI, GUACAMOLE, GROUND BEEF, BROWNIES, HUMMUS)
I outlined the costs and buying guides for the ultimate savings.
| How much does it cost to make gluten-free bread at home from scratch? | |||
| Quantities | Quantities in grams | Cost | |
| FOR THE YEAST MIX: | |||
| Water between 95°F-110°F | 1 1/4 cup | 296 g | $0.00 |
| Sugar | 2 tablespoons | 25 g | $0.17 |
| Dry active yeast (a 7g. packet) | 2 1/4 teaspoons | 7 g | $0.06 |
| FOR THE BREAD: | |||
| White rice flour | 1 cup | 145 g | $1.64 |
| Tapioca starch | 3/4 cup | 85 g | $1.32 |
| Potato starch (or arrowroot starch) | 3/4 cup | 92 g | $1.16 |
| Millet flour (or almond flour) | 1/2 cup | 60 g | $0.78 |
| Ground flaxseed (flaxseed meal) | 1/4 cup | 25 g | $0.33 |
| Xanthan gum | 2 1/2 teaspoons | 9 g | $0.26 |
| Baking powder | 1 teaspoon | 5 g | $0.06 |
| Salt | 1 teaspoon | 6 g | $0.04 |
| Oil (canola) | 1/4 cup | 60 g | 0.25 |
| Egg whites | 3 | 75 g | 0.66 |
| Apple cider vinegar | 1 teaspoon | 6 g | 0.05 |
| Electricity (oven) – baking time 1h | $0.31 | ||
| Cost of homemade gluten-free bread | 1 loaf | $7.09 | |
| Price per ounce | $0.25 | ||
| Weight unbaked gluten-free bread in grams | 896 | ||
| Baking weight loss percentages in grams | 10 | 89.6 | |
| Weight baked luten-free bread loaf in grams | 806.4 | ||
| SUM product weight in ounces | 28.5 | ||
Is it cheaper to make gluten-free bread from bread mix or from scratch
If you want to make gluten-free bread at home and don’t want to start from scratch, your best choice is to choose from a range of gluten-free bread mixes.
Making bread with a gluten-free bread mix is very easy and much faster than creating it from scratch. Gluten-free bread mixes offer the flavor and texture of homemade bread and, at the same time, bring that fantastic fresh baked bread smell directly into your home.
Most bread mixes can be used in a bread machine. Usually, havier bread types like cornbread are not suitable for the bread machine. You can find many gluten-free bread mixes in online stores, but when it comes to the price, you pay for the convenience of not making bread from scratch. Gluten-free bread mixes are more expensive than homemade bread from scratch.
To calculate the cost of making Gluten-free bread from the bread mix, we also added the cost of electricity. A gluten-free bread mix is a dry ingredient mix. That is why we compared only the dry ingredients weight of homemade recipe to the bread mix.
The table shows that it is cheaper to make gluten-free bread at home from scratch than making gluten-free bread at home from a bread mix. You can save an average of 40% if you make it from scratch. The price per ounce varies from 0.35$ to 1.25$.
| Cost of homemade gluten-free bread from scratch vs store-bought gluten-free bread mix – 1 loaf (28 oz – 806 g) a week | ||||
| Average price store-bought for 19.1 oz (540 g) | Price homemade from scratch | Difference | Homemade from scratch cheaper | |
| Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix | $13.46 | $7.09 | $6.37 | 47% |
| Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free | $24.13 | $7.09 | $17.04 | 71% |
| Namaste Foods Organic Gluten-Free Quick Bread | $13.65 | $7.09 | $6.56 | 48% |
| King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour Bread Mix | $16.13 | $7.09 | $9.04 | 56% |
| Mom’s Best Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Mix | $8.89 | $7.09 | $1.79 | 20% |
| Gluten-Free Wonderful White Bread Mix | $6.98 | $7.09 | -$0.11 | -2% |
| Average | 40% | |||
Best bread machine for making gluten-free bread at home
Best budget option bread machine, KBS Pro Stainless Steel Bread Machine
PROS
Special gluten-free setting
Seats steady on the countertop
Pre-programmed 17 settings
Digital touchpad
The additional setting for light, medium or dark crust
Fruit and nut dispenser
Ceramic coated baking bowl
Quick bake function makes fresh bread within 3-hours
2-year warranty
Dishwasher safe
CONS
Poor manual and recipe instructions for bread
Best professional bread machine, Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso Plus Breadmaker
Especially suitable for gluten-free bread
Two blades for kneading bread
heated lid for even baking of loaves
Capacity 2-pound
Shape- traditional rectangular loaves
Bread is positioned horizontally in the machine
15 pre-programmed settings
One-year warranty.
CONS
Expensive
No dispenser
Best bread machine under 100$, Hamilton Beach 2 lb Digital Bread Maker
Capacity for making 2 pounds of bread
Special setting for making gluten-free bread
It comes with 12 cycles, including cake and jam
It includes settings for light, medium and dark crust
Additional kneading paddle
Machine is quiet
Quick, easy and convenient
Easy to clean
CONS
The machine is a bit light to keep in place
How much money do you save if you make gluten-free bread at home from scratch
We calculated savings for making gluten-free bread at home from scratch and compared it to prepacked gluten-free bread and gluten-free bread mix.
Costs and savings – Homemade gluten-free bread from scratch vs store-bought prepacked gluten-free bread
Store-bought prepacked bread varies in price; that is why we took the best gluten-free bread which is available in online stores and compared them to gluten-free bread made at home from scratch. Prepacked bread price per ounce varies from 0.28$ to 0.66$, whereas gluten-free bread made at home from scratch only costs 0.25$ per ounce. The table shows that If you eat 1 loaf (28oz – 806g) a week, you could save from 3$ to 46$ a month and 42$ to 561$ a year.
| Savings if you make gluten-free bread at home from scratch vs store-bought prepacked gluten-free bread – 1 loaf (28 oz – 806 g) a week | |||||
| Average price store-bought per oz | Price homemade from scratch | Difference | Monthly savings | Yearly savings | |
| Schar Gluten-Free Artisan Baker White Bread | $18.78 | $7.09 | $11.69 | $46.75 | $561.02 |
| Canyon Bakehouse 7 Grain San Juan Bread, Gluten-Free | $8.54 | $7.09 | $1.44 | $5.78 | $69.33 |
| Katz Gluten-Free Bread | $7.97 | $7.09 | $0.88 | $3.50 | $42.01 |
| Eban’s Bakehouse Fresh Baked Gluten-Free | $11.38 | $7.09 | $4.29 | $17.16 | $205.91 |
| Ener-G Foods Tapioca Loaf | $11.67 | $7.09 | $4.57 | $18.30 | $219.57 |
| Glutino Gluten Free Seeded Bread | $10.53 | $7.09 | $3.44 | $13.75 | $165.02 |
| Three Bakers Gluten Free | $18.21 | $7.09 | $11.12 | $44.48 | $533.71 |
Costs and savings – Homemade gluten-free bread from scratch vs store-bought gluten-free bread mix
In the following table, the price for gluten-free bread made at home from scratch is compared to the store-bought bread mix. Store-bought bread mixes vary in price; that is why we took the best gluten-free bread mixes and compared them to gluten-free bread made at home from scratch. The table shows that If you eat 1 loaf (28oz – 806g) a week, you could save from 7$ to 25$ a month and from 86$ to 305$ a year. There is also one gluten-free bread mix we found, which costs basically the same per ounce as home gluten-free bread made from scratch.
| Savings for homemade gluten-free bread from scratch vs store-bought gluten-free bread mix – 1 loaf (28 oz – 806 g) a week | |||||
| Average price store-bought for 19.1 oz (540 g) | Price homemade from scratch | Difference | Monthly savings | Yearly savings | |
| Simple Mills Almond Flour Baking Mix | $13.46 | $7.09 | $6.37 | $25.47 | $305.64 |
| Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free | $24.13 | $7.09 | $17.04 | $68.15 | $817.82 |
| Namaste Foods Organic Gluten-Free Quick Bread | $13.65 | $7.09 | $6.56 | $26.23 | $314.79 |
| King Arthur Gluten-Free Flour Bread Mix | $16.13 | $7.09 | $9.04 | $36.14 | $433.68 |
| Mom’s Best Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Mix | $8.89 | $7.09 | $1.79 | $7.18 | $86.13 |
| Gluten-Free Wonderful White Bread Mix | $6.98 | $7.09 | -$0.11 | -$0.44 | -$5.33 |
Conclusion
Homemade or store-bought, all bread is delicious. But if you check the prices, you will soon consider making your bread at home. The price comparison of the prepacked bread and bread mixes suggests that you start making homemade bread, especially if you are on a tight budget. Soon after you begin making gluten-free bread from scratch, you will never go back to store-bought bread again.
I’ve written a complete “is it cheaper” analysis of the most popular foods cooks make at home.
(BREAD, PIZZA, PASTA, FRIES, BEEF JERKY, LASAGNA, CHEESECAKE, GRANOLA BARS, GLUTEN-FREE BREAD, MAYONNAISE, GNOCCHI, GUACAMOLE, GROUND BEEF, BROWNIES, HUMMUS)
I outlined the costs and buying guides for the ultimate savings.
* The prices for ingredients and products in our tables are average prices take from various websites. The prices are not taken directly from Amazon.
* Pro family chef utilizes affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of our product links, Pro family chef will receive a small commission at no cost to you. This helps support us, and allows us to keep providing tips, reviews, guides, and content for you.
