Crop Profitability Calculator for Vertical Farms
Model revenue, costs, and margins for eight indoor farming crops. Configure your facility size, energy rates, labor costs, and market pricing to compare profitability across crops with detailed cost breakdowns.
How Crop Profitability Is Calculated
Profitability for an indoor farming crop depends on the interaction between yield (turns per year × units per square foot), revenue (yield × market price), and total cost (energy + labor + consumables + rent + overhead). This calculator models all five cost categories using crop-specific parameters: DLI and photoperiod determine energy, labor minutes per turn determine labor cost, and seed/media/nutrient/packaging costs determine consumables. The result is a per-unit cost and margin that lets you compare crops on an equal basis.
How to Use This Calculator
- 1 Choose the crop you plan to grow. Each crop has different yield cycles, pricing, and light requirements that affect your bottom line.
- 2 Define your growing space. Floor space multiplied by grow levels gives your total canopy area — the foundation of all projections.
- 3 Set your electricity rate, LED efficiency, and labor costs. These are typically the two largest variable expenses in indoor farming.
- 4 Fine-tune market pricing and expected yields. Use overrides to model optimistic, pessimistic, or custom scenarios.
Crop Economics Reference Data
| Crop | Unit | Turns/Year | Yield/Turn | Price/Unit | DLI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterhead Lettuce | heads | 14 | 1.1/sqft | $1.75 | 17 |
| Romaine Lettuce | heads | 11 | 1.0/sqft | $1.50 | 17 |
| Basil | oz | 10 | 3.0/sqft | $1.25 | 20 |
| Arugula | oz | 14 | 2.5/sqft | $1.10 | 14 |
| Kale | oz | 12 | 3.5/sqft | $0.90 | 17 |
| Microgreens Mix | oz | 26 | 4.0/sqft | $2.00 | 12 |
| Strawberry | lb | 6 | 0.5/sqft | $4.50 | 22 |
| Cherry Tomato | lb | 4 | 1.2/sqft | $3.50 | 25 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most profitable crop for vertical farming?
Microgreens consistently show the highest revenue per square foot due to 26 annual turns and $2.00/oz pricing. However, profitability depends on your specific cost structure. Crops with lower revenue but lower energy and labor costs (like butterhead lettuce) may yield higher margins in facilities with expensive electricity.
How much revenue per square foot can an indoor farm generate?
Revenue ranges widely by crop: leafy greens generate $15–$30 per grow square foot per year, herbs $25–$40, microgreens $40–$60, and fruiting crops $20–$50. These figures are per grow square foot (canopy area), not floor square foot.
What is the cost per pound for indoor-grown lettuce?
Fully loaded cost (including energy, labor, consumables, rent, and overhead) typically ranges from $1.50–$3.00 per pound for butterhead lettuce in a well-run facility. Energy and labor are the two largest cost components. Facilities with high automation and LED efficacy above 2.8 µmol/J can reach the lower end of this range.
How do I improve indoor farm margins?
The four highest-impact levers are: (1) increase crop turns through faster cycle times, (2) reduce energy cost with higher-efficacy LEDs and optimized photoperiods, (3) reduce labor per unit through automation, and (4) improve yield per square foot through better environmental control and genetics.
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