How Much Do Dispensary Menu Boards Cost?

Dispensary Indoor Menu Boards 1240 x 450

How much do dispensary menu boards cost?

When setting up or revamping a cannabis retail location, your product display strategy is a critical investment. After finalizing your inventory selection, you'll need effective menu boards to showcase all of your offerings. As one of the final major purchases in your dispensary setup, you're likely wondering: what's the realistic price range for quality menu boards that will enhance customer experience and drive sales?

This guide answers just that and breaks down dispensary menu board costs by category, explaining key factors including the type, size, and mounting of your menu board, that influence the final price you pay. 

 Digital Menu Board Costs

 

For maximum visual impact and operational flexibility, digital menu boards represent the premium solution. Although digital menu boards require the highest initial investment, most dispensary owners find the benefits outweigh the costs. Digital systems typically range from $1,000 for a basic single-screen setup to $10,000+ for comprehensive multi-screen installations with advanced features.

Price factors affecting digital menu board costs:

  • Screen quantity and size: Starting at $1,000 per small screen (43"), with larger screens (55"-65") costing more
  • Warranty protection: Premium coverage starts around $200 per screen for three years, increasing with screen size
  • Software requirements:
    • Monitoring software: One-time fee of approximately $100 per screen
    • Content management platform: Subscription-based, roughly $500 for 3-5 screens
  • Media players:
    • External players: $600-$1,400, depending on output capacity
    • System-on-chip solutions: Approximately $100 per screen for software installation
  • Installation materials: $100-$300 additional, depending on your location's setup
  • Content creation services: Variable pricing based on complexity and frequency of updates

When determining the number of screens you need, consider your product variety, the viewing distance for customers, the frequency of new product introductions, the availability of photography, and physical space constraints.

Hybrid Menu Board Costs

 

Hybrid menu boards combine digital elements with traditional illuminated or non-illuminated panels, offering a balance of modern technology and static aesthetics. These customizable systems can showcase dynamic content, such as specials and featured products, on digital components, while displaying standard offerings on illuminated sections.

Pricing varies widely based on the specific combination of elements, but typically falls between the cost of fully illuminated and fully digital systems. 

If you want to learn even more about the reasons to upgrade to a digital or hybrid menu board, make sure to check out this blog from our experts!

LED or Illuminated Menu Board Cost

Illuminated menu boards work especially well in dispensaries with challenging lighting conditions where some signage may be hard to read. These lightbox systems with printed polycarbonate panels generally cost:

  • Single 18"x18" panel: Starting around $700
  • 18"x27" panel: Approximately $800
  • Typical installation (4-6 panels): From $2,800

Considerations affecting illuminated menu board pricing:

  • Panel dimensions and quantity needed to display your product selection
  • Installation requirements (wall-mounted vs. ceiling-hung)
  • Updating options (menu printed without pricing for easier updates)
  • Electrical requirements and connection points

The aluminum frame construction limits size flexibility compared to magnetic options, so careful space planning is essential.

 

Magnetic Menu Board Costs

Magnetic Menu Boards With Frames 560 x 280

Magnetic menu boards offer excellent versatility at a budget friendly price point, ranging from $400 to $2,000. These systems use metalized sheets attached to magnetized PVC backboards.

Factors influencing magnetic menu board costs:

  • Product selection breadth: Limited offerings might require only 1-2 panels, while extensive menus may need 6-8 panels
  • Panel dimensions: Standard sizes cost less than custom cuts
  • Materials quality:
    • Backboard thickness (typically 13mm PVC)
    • Magnetic resin film strength
    • Graphic durability in varying dispensary conditions
  • Installation method: Wall-mounting or ceiling-hanging options
  • Update flexibility: Systems with changeable product strips and price chips allow for economical updates

Making Your Decision


Deciding what kind of menu board you want is a big decision. The menu board is your dispensary's most essential branding tool, so you must get it right! You should partner with experts to help you choose the right option for your cannabis retail business. If you would like to learn more about digital signage and dispensaries, make sure to check out our complete guide to digital signage in dispensaries!