Ultimate Charcuterie Board Cost & Pricing Guide

If you love building charcuterie and cheese boards, use this post to learn all about ingredient costs, supply costs, and all the other expenses involved. With my tips and experience, you will be able to learn about perfect serving sizes and everything you need to know when selling charcuterie boards.

Cheese and charcuterie boards are a trend that's here to stay for the foreseeable future. If you look around Instagram, Pinterest, and other platforms, you'll see that there are seemingly endless amounts of people making these boards all around the world.

With boards and platters continuing to rise in popularity, I wanted to share the information in this post in hopes of helping someone interested in selling their charcuterie creations. So, if you've ever wondered 'How much should I charge for a charcuterie board?,' this is the post that will answer your questions. 

Starting a business is no simple task. Fortunately, with the help of this post, the process will be a lot easier. This extensive guide will help you through the process of brainstorming, the cost of ingredients, sourcing supplies, determining serving sizes, and pricing your product.

As a disclaimer, this post is not meant to substitute the advice of a lawyer or accountant. You'll still need to go through the proper channels to get your business set up with the correct requirements and regulations.

One of the first things you'll need to think through is the price of ingredients. It's important to source high-quality ingredients that your customers will love!

This section will talk through the average price of items (cost will vary depending on your location) as well as the best ways to cut costs without sacrificing quality or taste!

The charcuterie (meat) part of any plate will be a bit pricey. The great news is, a little goes a long way! I'd suggest buying quality charcuterie to elevate your board and impress your customers.

Salami/Sopresata/Genoa: $5.00 - $10.00 per 4 ounces

These meats are great for making pretty designs on your boards and platter (like these meat flowers).

Prosciutto: $7.00 - $15.00 per 4 ounces

Since the price of prosciutto is so high, use it sparingly! You could also wrap it around a piece of cheese so guests know exactly what pairs best with the prosciutto.

Jamon Iberico: $10.00 - $15.00 per 1 ounce

This is considered the king of cured meats. Sliced thin and melting in your mouth like butter, this is the Spanish version of prosciutto and arguably much more delicious. I recommend only using this for the fanciest charcuterie boards, given the steep price. 

Mortadella: $3.00 - $5.00 per 4 ounces

Mortadella is one of my favorite Italian charcuterie meats. It is on the less expensive side compared to most of the aged meats on this list, so it is super budget-friendly. Look for different versions of mortadella like with olives or pistachio. 

Capicola/Corsica: $8.00 - $15.00 per 4 ounces

Sliced thin and super delicate, it bears many similarities to a prosciutto. Fortunately, capicola tends to be cheaper than the highly desired prosciutto, making it a great option for saving money without a huge dropoff in quality.

Produce

Fresh produce can provide a great pop of color! These are great options for filler items to add to a board since produce is very reasonably priced.

Fresh Fruit & Veggies: $1.00 - $5.00 per lb

From celery stalks to exotic fruit, there is an endless range of fruits and vegetables varying in flavor, color, and price. This is one of the most inexpensive parts of any charcuterie board, so don’t be afraid to incorporate plenty of fresh produce.

Dried Fruit: $3.00 - $8.00 per 8 ounces

There is a big price difference between raisins or dried cranberries compared to dried mango or figs. Be sure to coordinate any dried fruit used with the other flavors of the cheese board.

Honey/Jam

If you need to cut costs, feel free to skip out on both of these food items.

Honey: $3.00 - $10.00 per 8 ounces

You can use a variety of honey from a piece of honeycomb to infused honey with flavors such as orange, lemon, or lavender.

Jam: $3.00 - $10.00 per 8 ounces

The nice thing about jams and jellies is that they last for a long time, and you can use the same jar for multiple cheese boards.

Nuts

Be careful with nuts - make sure to ask customers if there are any allergies. Nuts are another great filler item, and there are lots of varieties!

Nuts: $1.50 - $8.00 per 4 ounces

A general rule of thumb: if there's still a shell on the nut, it will typically cost less money. Keep that in mind if you’re looking for little ways to save money.

Olives/Pickles

Olives and pickles provide a nice touch of acid and brine to a board. Feel free to use different varieties of both items.

Olives: $3.00 - $15.00 per 8 ounces

Plain olives are typically very inexpensive. If you’re looking for something a little fancier, check out the selection of stuffed olives.

Pickles: $0.50 - $4.00 per 8 ounces

Adding a pickled item to a cheese board is a great way to add a change of texture and some acidity to the spread of flavors. Cornichons are my favorite to use because they don't take up much space and are the perfect finger food.

Bread/Crackers

Of course, you'll need some bread and crackers to complete your charcuterie board. Some people prefer to serve these items on the side of the board.

Bread: $1.00 - $6.00 per loaf

Bread is super inexpensive and a great way to fill in space on any charcuterie board. To level up your bread choice, look for a unique artisanal loaf or bake your own.

Crackers: $2.00 - $8.00 per 8 ounces

Just like bread, crackers are a great way to fill in the open space on your cheese board. Neutral-flavored crackers are usually the best for charcuterie platters, letting the flavors of the cheese and the meat stand out.

For more charcuterie board ingredient ideas, grab my ultimate shopping list with over 100+ food items to inspire your next board or platter.

Another essential part of creating charcuterie boards for selling is finding reasonably priced supplies.

Some common places to source charcuterie board supplies include:

• Amazon: Best for people just starting a business who need a lower quantity of supplies.
• WebstaurantStore: Perfect for businesses doing a large quantity of business.
• Local Restaurant Supply Store: A good option for when you need supplies quickly and don't have time to wait for shipping.

Here are some charcuterie board/platter supplies you'll need to consider buying:

Boards: You'll need a board to hold everything on! Some great options include reusable wood boards (just cut down plywood and cover with parchment paper), disposable bamboo serving trays, or cardboard boxes with a window cutout (great for small platters).

Utensils: Don't forget to package your board or platter with the proper utensils for what's on the board. This may include bamboo tongs, bamboo cutlery, a honey dipper, or decorative toothpicks.

Labels: Depending on the type of board or platter you're selling, you may wish to label the types of cheese. I like these flag toothpicks for a simple yet elegant touch.

Garnishes: I find that some of the prettiest charcuterie boards are the ones that also have garnishes on them. This can range from baby pumpkins, whole fruits (like pomegranates, apples, and pears), edible flowers, and sprigs of herbs (like rosemary, thyme, and mint).

When planning your boards and platters, reference these serving size suggestions (per person) as a starting point.

Cheese: 2-3 ounces per person

Charcuterie (meat): 4-6 slices per person

Fruit: ⅛ - ¼ cup per person

Nuts: 2 - 3 tablespoons per person

Olives/Pickles: 3-4 olives/pickles (about ⅛ cup) per person

Honey/Jam: 1 tablespoon per person

Crackers/bread: 7-10 slices per person

If you're interested in selling your charcuterie or cheese boards, it's important to think through an ideal pricing structure. You want to price your boards and platters according to the food products, supplies, and time it takes to create the board.

Here's a basic pricing formula you can use to estimate the cost of your charcuterie boards: cost of food + cost of supplies + hourly creation rate + sales tax (if applicable) = total board cost

You'll also want to consider changing your pricing based on various circumstances:

• Overhead: These are essentially your hidden business expenses. Things like the cost of gas for groceries, electricity used in your kitchen, and the water used when cleaning dishes.
• Delivery: Consider including a delivery fee for any orders outside a 10 - 15 mile radius. Add $.75 - $1.50 per additional mile outside of your radius.
• Gratuity: For large orders over a certain cost (i.e. $500) or party size (i.e. board for 15 people), consider adding a 10% - 15% gratuity.
• Deposits: Consider requiring a 50% deposit to reserve the event date to avoid people canceling orders last minute.
• Minimums: For smaller boards, require customers to order a minimum dollar amount.
• Cancellation Policy: Require customers to still pay a certain percentage of their order cost if they cancel 2-4 days prior to the event date.
• Board Costs: If you are planning to sell your charcuterie boards and have the option for the customer to keep the board, be sure to include the full cost of the board in your price. This includes taxes and shipping fees (if either is applicable).
• Eco-friendly Boards/Utensils: Charge a premium for reusable or eco-friendly supplies.
• Commercial Kitchen/Business Expenses: Be sure to factor in the additional costs that you pay just to run your business including commercial kitchen rent, supplies such as gloves/soap, etc.

To help you think through your pricing structure, here are suggested base prices. These are based on estimates from around the internet.

Increase your prices from here depending on your personal business costs as discussed above:

Small Charcuterie Board (1-2 people): $25 - $50+

Medium Charcuterie Board (3-5 people): $50 - $100+

Large Charcuterie Board (8-10 people): $100 - $175+

Extra Large Charcuterie Board (20 - 30 people): $350 - $1,000+

Grazing Table (100+ people): $1,500 - $5,000+

Average price per person: $15 - $25+

Please be sure to consult with a lawyer on a client contract/service agreement with the terms and conditions that you decide on.

Here I will break down my tips and suggestions for creating the most beautiful cheese and charcuterie boards without breaking the bank.

There are many ways to save when building cheese boards. So, decide what parts of your board are most important, and then focus on the other ways to budget. 

Choose less expensive cheeses/meats: These are likely your main expenses. Finding less expensive but still quality products can go a long way to saving money. 

Shop at bulk stores or wholesalers: These stores are a great way to save on product expenses. If you have multiple orders or large orders, buying in bulk/ wholesale can save you a ton. 

Use seasonal produce: Not only is this a great way to get the best quality products on your boards, but it is a great way to theme your boards as well. Buying in-season produce is always more affordable than out-of-season produce. 

Use less meat/cheese and fill the space with other items: Fillers such as crackers, nuts, candies, dried fruit, or jams are great ways to save on the more expensive products. 

Use non-food products on your board: Non-food products like edible flowers, small pumpkins or gourds, and greenery such as eucalyptus are great ways to fill up your board, maintain a beautiful presentation, and save money.

Need more tips & tricks for building cheese and charcuterie boards? Check out these articles: