Tempo’s weekly plans start at $11 per meal, with a $10.99 shipping fee and a $63.92 weekly minimum before tax.
Tempo is built for people who want a fridge stocked with single-serve, ready-to-heat meals that don’t taste like a frozen box. Cost is the first question, since the headline “per meal” number isn’t the full story. Your true weekly total comes from three pieces: your plan size, shipping, and any add-ons you choose.
This guide breaks down Tempo’s posted plan pricing, shows what your checkout total can look like with shipping added, and gives a few practical ways to keep spending steady week to week without feeling boxed into a strict routine.
What You Pay For When You Order Tempo
Tempo’s base price is set by how many meals you get in a week. The more meals in the box, the lower the per-meal rate. That’s the core lever that moves your bill.
On top of the food total, Tempo charges a flat shipping fee. Sales tax may apply based on your location and local rules. Then there’s the optional part: extra items you can add to a weekly order, which changes the final number you see at checkout.
If you want a clean budget, think in “weekly totals,” not just “per meal.” Per-meal pricing tells you which plan is the better deal. Weekly total tells you what you’ll actually pay.
How Much Does Tempo Meals Cost? Price Breakdown By Plan
Tempo lists six plan sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, or 16+ meals per week. The per-meal rate drops as plan size rises, and the weekly order minimum is set by the smallest plan total before shipping and tax.
To ground this section in Tempo’s own figures, use their support page as the source of truth for plan pricing and the weekly minimum. Here’s the official breakdown: Tempo pricing by plan.
Below, “weekly food total” is the meals subtotal only. Shipping and tax are handled in the next section so you can see what changes and what stays fixed.
Plan Pricing At A Glance
These are Tempo’s listed per-meal prices and the matching weekly food totals (meals only, before shipping and tax).
| Plan Size | Price Per Meal (Meals Only) | Weekly Food Total (Meals Only) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 meals / week | $13.48 | $80.88 |
| 8 meals / week | $12.98 | $103.84 |
| 10 meals / week | $12.48 | $124.80 |
| 12 meals / week | $11.98 | $143.76 |
| 14 meals / week | $11.48 | $160.72 |
| 16+ meals / week | $10.98 | $175.68 (16 meals) |
| Weekly order minimum | — | $63.92 minimum (shipping and tax not included) |
If you’re choosing between two plan sizes, the question is simple: do you want a lower per-meal rate, or do you want a lower weekly bill? A bigger plan wins on per-meal value. A smaller plan wins on total dollars out of pocket.
Shipping, Tax, And The Checkout Total
Tempo’s support materials spell out that shipping is a separate line item, and the price table above does not include it. Tempo’s posted shipping fee is $10.99 per box. You can confirm shipping details through their shipping and delivery help section. Start here: Tempo shipping and delivery help.
Sales tax is the third part. Tax rules vary by state and locality, and prepared foods can fall under different categories depending on where you live. Tempo notes tax is not included in plan pricing, so the clean way to budget is:
- Meals subtotal (from your plan size)
- + $10.99 shipping
- + sales tax (your local rate on taxable items)
If you order every week, that shipping fee shows up every week. If you skip weeks, your total spend drops in those weeks since you’re not charged for an order that didn’t finalize.
What Counts As “Skipping” And When Charges Happen
Meal subscriptions are easiest when the rules are clear. Tempo lets you skip deliveries or manage the weeks you receive meals from inside your account settings, but deadlines apply. Tempo’s help center lays out the timing for skips and order changes, which helps you avoid surprise charges tied to an order that already locked in: Tempo skip a delivery steps.
That timing matters if you travel, if your schedule flips, or if you just want a lighter month. When you treat Tempo as a flexible subscription instead of a fixed commitment, cost becomes easier to manage.
Add-Ons, Discounts, And Other Things That Move The Price
Tempo’s core bill comes from meals plus shipping, but there are a few common reasons two people on the same plan size can pay different totals.
Optional extras in your box
Tempo promotes its prepared meals first, and you can add extra food items depending on what’s offered that week. These extras can be handy if you want a full set of breakfasts or snacks from one cart, but they raise the weekly total fast. If you’re trying to stick to a number, treat add-ons like a “nice to have,” not a default click.
Intro offers and referral credits
Meal brands often run new-customer promotions. A discount can bring the first few boxes down, then pricing returns to the standard plan rates. If you’re testing Tempo, budget using the standard weekly total so you don’t get caught off guard when a promo ends.
Delivery frequency choices
Some people use Tempo weekly, others rotate it with home cooking or other meal sources. If you plan to order every other week, skipping becomes part of your routine. Tempo’s account tools allow control over which weeks you receive meals and can support less frequent deliveries. Their help center explains how to manage weeks and subscription frequency inside your account: Tempo control delivery weeks.
What Tempo Costs In Common Weekly Setups
Numbers help, since most people think in routines: lunches for workdays, dinners on busy nights, or “cover most meals so I stop buying takeout.” The table below shows meals plus shipping totals, with sales tax not included.
These scenarios use Tempo’s listed per-meal rates from the plan chart and add the $10.99 shipping fee for one weekly delivery. If you add extras, your number rises beyond what’s shown.
| Use Case | Meals Per Week | Cost Before Tax (Meals + $10.99 Shipping) |
|---|---|---|
| Workweek lunches | 6 | $80.88 + $10.99 = $91.87 |
| Lunches plus two dinners | 8 | $103.84 + $10.99 = $114.83 |
| Two meals most weekdays | 10 | $124.80 + $10.99 = $135.79 |
| Solo, steady dinners | 12 | $143.76 + $10.99 = $154.75 |
| Two people, light coverage | 14 | $160.72 + $10.99 = $171.71 |
| Two people, heavier coverage | 16 | $175.68 + $10.99 = $186.67 |
If you’re deciding between 12 and 14 meals, your jump is $16.96 more in meals subtotal, then shipping stays the same. If you’re deciding between 6 and 8 meals, your jump is $22.96 more in meals subtotal, then shipping stays the same. That’s the simplest way to compare plans: compare meals subtotal, then add shipping once.
How To Pick The Right Plan Without Overbuying
Most people waste money on meal subscriptions in one of two ways: ordering too few meals, then filling gaps with pricey last-minute food, or ordering too many meals, then tossing leftovers after the freshness window passes.
Start with your “gap meals”
List the meals you’re most likely to buy out of convenience. Think: weekday lunches, late-night dinners after work, or that midweek moment when the fridge looks empty. Count those meals. That count often lands near 6, 8, or 10.
Choose plan size based on a real week
Look at a normal week. Not your best week, not a holiday week. If you only need coverage for lunches, 6 can fit. If you want lunches plus a couple dinners, 8 can fit. If you want a strong base of ready meals, 10 or 12 can fit.
Use the “two-week check”
After two deliveries, you’ll know if you’re running out early or stacking meals you won’t eat. If you’re running out early, the higher plan can lower per-meal cost and reduce impulse spending elsewhere. If you’re stacking meals, drop the plan size or skip more often.
Ways To Keep Tempo Spending Steady
If your goal is a predictable food budget, the trick is to remove surprise weeks and surprise add-ons. A few habits make a real difference.
Set a weekly ceiling in dollars
Pick a number that feels comfortable for your household and stick to it. Use the meals-plus-shipping totals as your baseline and treat tax as the last small variable. Then choose a plan that fits under your ceiling without needing extra purchases.
Skip weeks you already know will be messy
Travel, hosting guests, or work trips can push meals to the back of the fridge. Skip those weeks ahead of the cutoff so you don’t pay for food you won’t use. Tempo posts order timing rules in its help center, and using them keeps costs aligned with your calendar.
Keep add-ons for a planned reason
Add-ons can be handy when you know you’ll need them, like stocking breakfasts for a busy stretch. If you add extras out of impulse, your bill creeps up. A simple rule helps: if you wouldn’t buy it at the store this week, don’t add it to the cart.
Canceling Tempo If It’s Not A Fit
If you’re trying Tempo and decide the pricing doesn’t match your routine, canceling should be straightforward. Tempo’s help center provides step-by-step cancellation instructions, plus notes about reactivating later if you change your mind: Tempo cancel subscription steps.
Even if you don’t cancel, the ability to skip weeks can make the service feel more flexible and keep spending in check. Treat it as a tool you can dial up or down based on your schedule.
Tempo Cost Checklist Before You Click Checkout
If you want a fast gut-check on the total, run this list each week:
- Plan size chosen (6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16+)
- Meals subtotal (plan price × meals)
- Shipping added ($10.99 per box)
- Any add-ons added on purpose, not by habit
- Skip week set if you won’t be home or won’t eat the meals
When you budget with the subtotal plus shipping, Tempo’s pricing becomes simple to predict. The per-meal rate tells you the value of larger plans. The weekly total tells you what hits your card. Put both in view, and you’ll choose the plan that matches your week instead of guessing.
References & Sources
- Tempo.“How much does Tempo cost?”Lists per-meal pricing by plan size, the weekly minimum, and notes that shipping and tax are not included.
- Tempo.“Shipping + Delivery.”Help center hub for delivery details and shipping guidance used to frame checkout totals.
- Tempo.“How do I skip a delivery?”Explains skip timing and cutoff rules that affect whether you are charged for a given week.
- Tempo.“How do I cancel my subscription?”Step-by-step instructions for cancellation and notes on reactivation later.
- Tempo.“Can I control which weeks I receive meals?”Describes account controls for managing delivery weeks and subscription frequency.