How Much Do Digital Menu Boards Cost? (original) (raw)

How much digital menu boards cost depends on hardware, software, and features. A Study by MarketResearch.com shows that the digital menu board market was valued at over 2.6billionin2022andisprojectedtoreachnearly2.6 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach nearly 2.6billionin2022andisprojectedtoreachnearly3.9 billion by 2028.

This guide explains the key pricing factors for digital menu boards, including hardware, software, installation, design, and maintenance. Whether you’re a small cafe or a growing chain, this breakdown will help you budget more wisely and choose the right solution for your business.

The pricing for digital menu boards involves several cost components, including hardware, software, and ongoing maintenance.

AIScreen provides a flexible and affordable solution for restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and multi-location food businesses. Below is a breakdown of the significant cost factors to help you plan your investment.

Hardware Cost

The hardware cost is the foundation of your digital menu board setup. This includes the screen, media player, mounting hardware, and power setup.

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Hardware costs can significantly impact your budget. High-quality displays and reliable media players ensure smoother performance, a longer lifespan, and fewer replacements.

• Digital Screens: The screen is your most visible asset. AIScreen-compatible screens range in size and resolution, depending on venue type. Typical range: 400(basic32″)to400 (basic 32″) to 400(basic32″)to1,500+ (professional-grade 55” or 4K options)
• Media Players: AIScreen works with various Android-based and commercial-grade media players. The Raspberry Pi and Fire TV Stick are optimized for smooth video playback. Typical range: 150to150 to 150to300, depending on specs and connectivity (Wi-Fi/Ethernet, 4K support, remote updates)
• Mounting equipment includes wall mounts, stands, and ceiling brackets. 1. Basic mounts: 50–50–50–100, 2. Custom or rotating mounts: Up to $300+

Also, You Need to Know:

Investing in better-quality hardware upfront can reduce downtime and maintenance costs later. AIScreen’s cloud system minimizes reliance on expensive built-in hardware by offloading content control to the software.

A study by Forrester Research indicates that quick-service restaurants (QSRs) can save approximately $30,000 per year per location by reducing printing costs and labor associated with updating traditional menus.

Software Cost

The cost of digital menu board software mainly involves AIScreen’s digital signage software, which serves as the core for managing menu content. It allows real-time updates, scheduling, and template editing from any device.

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AIScreen offers a scalable subscription model for small cafes, mid-sized restaurants, or multi-location chains.

Launch Subscription, $10/month per screen
Ideal for small to medium businesses

• 1500+ digital menu board templates
• Built-in Canva editor
• Playlist and schedule management
• Remote screen control

Business Subscription, $15/month per screen
Best for growing or multi-location setups

• All features in Launch
• Multi-user access and company workspaces
• Full app integrations (Canva, PosterMyWall)
• Advanced display zones (split-screen, videos, text overlays)

Also, You Need to Know:

AIScreen software is built for growth, so as your business scales, you can add more screens, users, and advanced functionality without a costly upgrade or migration.

Installation Costs

Installation cost is crucial in system reliability, whether mounting one screen or rolling out across 10 locations.

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AIScreen software is DIY-friendly. However, professional installation is available if you want a hands-off setup.

Basic Installation: 300–300–300–500

• Includes screen mounting, cable management, and player setup

Advanced/Enterprise Installation: 1,000–1,000–1,000–5,000

• Covers multi-location deployment, network configuration, and custom integrations (e.g., POS systems)

Also, You Need to Know:

AIScreen has a simple setup process: plug in the player, connect to Wi-Fi, and you’re ready to display. Many users handle installation in-house with their IT team or basic technical skills, significantly saving costs.

Implementing digital menu boards can decrease customer wait times by 5.75%, enhancing overall service efficiency, according to Statista.

Menu design cost is an important consideration, as your menu content needs to be visually appealing, readable, and updated frequently for promotions, specials, or seasonal changes.

DIY Menu Design (Templates + Canva Editor):

• Included in all subscriptions
• No need for external design tools or skills
• Create menus in minutes using drag-and-drop elements
• Cost: $0 (already included)

Professional Design Services:

• If you prefer a custom menu created by a designer
• Cost range: 500–500–500–1,500, depending on scope

Also, You Need to Know:

With AIScreen’s Canva integration, most users eliminate the need for outside design services. This built-in feature is a game-changer for frequent menu changes or promotional designs.

Understanding the associated costs is important, but equally important is recognizing the top 15 benefits of digital menu boards for use in your restaurant, such as enhanced engagement, real-time updates, and reduced printing expenses, which justify both upfront and recurring investments.

Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs are essential for long-term success with digital signage, ensuring reliable uptime, routine updates, and regular content refreshes. These costs can include software updates, hardware repairs, and ongoing content management to keep the menu displays current and functioning smoothly.

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AIScreen’s cloud platform automatically receives software updates and provides centralized screen control, minimizing ongoing IT involvement.

Software Updates & Cloud Access:

• Included in a monthly subscription
• Covers feature updates, bug fixes, and security patches

Hardware Maintenance:

• Occasional media player replacement or screen servicing
• Estimated annual cost: 200–200–200–400, depending on usage

Support Plans:

• Basic email support is included
• Priority or enterprise support plans are available upon request
• Add-on cost: 100–100–100–500/year for advanced SLAs

Also, You Need to Know:

AIScreen keeps your screens running without frequent touchpoints. Cloud control lets you fix most issues remotely, dramatically reducing downtime and on-site maintenance costs.

Cost variation between different types of menu boards depends on the format, audience, and intended use. AIScreen supports multiple display types, helping businesses create engaging and scalable solutions for indoor and outdoor environments.

Below is a detailed breakdown of how costs vary based on the type of digital menu board you choose.

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Offline playback

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Cost of indoor digital menu boards is typically more affordable than that of outdoor units. These are the most common options for restaurants, cafes, food courts, and fast-casual dining setups.

Indoor boards don’t require weatherproofing or high-brightness screens, which makes them significantly more affordable than outdoor units.

LCD Screens (e.g., cafes and indoor dining):

LED screens for bare digital menu boards using commercial LCD or TV displays start at around 500–500–500–1,000. These are ideal for small venues with moderate screen time.

• Example: Insignia™ – Class F30 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV – ~$170 – $299.99
• Works seamlessly with AIScreen’s Launch Plan for content management and scheduling.

LED Displays (premium indoor experience)

LED displays offer a longer lifespan and sharper visuals for high-traffic venues or franchises. They typically cost between 1,000and1,000 and 1,000and5,000.

• Example: LG UL3J-E series – ~$980.00 – $2,575.00
• AIScreen’s cloud software ensures consistent and remote updates without needing expensive internal media processors.

AIScreen enables even entry-level indoor displays to run stunning dynamic menus through lightweight, Android-based media players that cost under $300.

The global digital signage market is projected to grow from 20.1billionin2024to20.1 billion in 2024 to 20.1billionin2024to27.3 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.3%, according to MarketsandMarkets.

Cost of outdoor digital menu boards is generally higher due to their robust construction, which is designed to withstand various weather conditions. These boards are typically used in drive-thrus, takeout windows, or exterior walk-up counters.

Outdoor boards command a higher price point due to their weatherproof enclosures, high-brightness panels, and anti-glare coatings.

• Basic Outdoor LED Display: Prices range from 2,000to2,000 to 2,000to5,000, depending on size, brightness (measured in nits), and the type of enclosure materials.
• High-end custom units (Fast-Food Chains): Large-format outdoor boards with integrated media players, speakers, and point-of-sale (POS) systems can cost over $20,000 per unit.

AIScreen supports rugged outdoor media players and offers cloud-based software that ensures smooth remote control, even in extreme weather setups. It can be installed in enclosed drive-thru displays or freestanding outdoor kiosks without latency issues.

Cost of video wall menu boards can be significantly higher due to the combination of multiple displays designed to create an immersive, large-scale digital experience. These setups are ideal for flagship restaurants, franchise headquarters, or food courts that want maximum visual impact.

AIScreen supports video wall configurations through influential media players and seamless multi-screen content sync. Businesses can create menu boards that span walls or even columns indoors.

Average Video Wall Setup:

• Hardware + mounting + installation: 5,000to5,000 to 5,000to10,000
• Sony BRAVIA BZ50L Series Display, $10,835.00
• Media Players: ~$200–$500 per screen, or a centralized 4-output player

AIScreen’s centralized control makes it easy to push content to all displays simultaneously, schedule changes, and update video wall layouts in real time.

Digital displays capture 400% more views than static displays, indicating their superior effectiveness in attracting attention, according to Grand View Research.

Cost of interactive digital menu boards is typically higher due to the inclusion of touchscreen interfaces and additional features such as mobile payments, card readers, and thermal printers.

These advanced setups are perfect for self-service restaurants, quick-service chains, and smart cafes, allowing customers to browse, customize, and order food directly from the screen. The price can vary based on the complexity of the interface and the features integrated into the system.

Self-Ordering Kiosks:

• Basic units: 3,000to3,000 to 3,000to6,000
• Premium multi-touch kiosks with card readers: 7,000to7,000 to 7,000to10,000+
• Add-ons: Printers, cameras, and biometric scanners can increase total costs

Software Considerations:

• AIScreen can be paired with interactive apps or third-party ordering platforms.
• Analytics features and POS integrations may require custom setups

While AIScreen doesn’t natively offer payment processing, it integrates easily with third-party systems, allowing restaurants to build hybrid interactive boards. If you want to combine AIScreen with self-ordering hardware, our team can guide you through compatible systems and integration partners.

Finding out how much you can save with AIScreen’s digital menu board solutions is easy. These solutions provide long-term savings and enhanced customer experiences, making them a wise investment for any modern food business.

Approximately 68% of consumers say digital signage would influence their decision to buy advertised products, highlighting its impact on purchasing behavior, according to MarketResearch.com.

AIScreen, a leading affordable and easy-to-use digital signage provider, offers a cloud-based platform that helps restaurants, cafes, and food trucks reduce costs.

This minimizes the need for expensive installations and software upgrades, allowing businesses to manage and scale their menu displays with minimal effort and at a lower cost. Contact us for more details.

Ready to talk about your Digital Signage Project?

1500+ ready-to-use templates

70+ built-in integration

Offline playback

Split screen to zones

We’ll give you a call back within 24h!

FAQs

Are digital menu boards cheaper than printed menus?

Digital menu boards are not cheaper than printed menus because they may have higher upfront costs, but they save money in the long term by eliminating reprinting costs, enabling real-time updates, and reducing design expenses. These benefits lead to a more cost-effective solution, especially for businesses with frequent menu changes.

Can I use a TV as a digital menu board?

Yes, you can use a TV as a digital menu board when paired with a media player and signage software like AIScreen, offering a cost-effective display solution. This allows you to transform a standard TV into a dynamic, interactive digital menu display.

How long does it take to recoup the cost of a digital menu board?

It takes 6 to 18 months to recoup the cost of digital menu boards through increased upselling, reduced printing costs, and improved customer engagement. The savings from not having to reprint menus and the ability to update content instantly contribute to this faster return on investment.

Can I upgrade my digital menu board in the future?

Yes, you can upgrade digital menu boards in the future with AIScreen as they are scalable. With software, you can switch layouts or add more screens without replacing your existing system. This flexibility allows businesses to grow and adapt as needed without incurring additional significant costs.

What hidden costs should I be aware of when purchasing digital menu boards?

The hidden costs you should be aware of when purchasing digital menu boards include installation, design services, content updates, hardware replacements, and software subscription fees not included in the base pricing. It’s important to consider these factors to fully understand the total cost of ownership.