How Much Does Lobster Cost?

Last Updated on December 28, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Perfectly prepared lobster is one of the great culinary pleasures of seafood enthusiasts. Also called the “cardinal of the seas”, the tender meat of the lobster is highly valued in fine gastronomy for its sweet and delicate taste.

But before it was considered a delicacy, lobster was used as fertilizer, fish bait, or the main source of food for slaves during colonial times.

How Much Does Lobster Cost Per Pound?

Lobster from a grocery store will cost, on average, anywhere between $10 and $25 per pound.  There are several factors that will affect lobster price, such as the market conditions, the place you buy it from, the time of the year, the size, the way it is processed (frozen or fresh), the quality, and the geographical location.

The weight of a lobster at most stores would be one to four pounds, which means that the average cost of a lobster would be $30 to more than $75.

For example, the Yankee Lobster Company offers jumbo lobsters for sale, that weigh more than six pounds, at the price of around $15 per pound, and one-pound lobster at the price of almost $12 per piece.

The costs may be much higher for the lobster meat that is already frozen, prepped, and ready to go. Expect to pay $55 to $75 per pound only for the tail meat, and $50 to $70 per pound for mixed lobster meat. For every five kilograms of lobster, you get around half a kilogram of meat.

A whole lobster tail weighs, in general, about four to five ounces and costs anywhere between $10 and $18. At some retailers, like Sam’s Club, it is charged by the pound, and you might have to spend around $55 per pound of lobster.

In the table below you will find the average lobster costs by weight.

Lobster meat – short presentation

Lobster is a very healthy food, low in calories but a rich source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, and vitamins E, B-12, and B-6.

There are two species of lobster on the market: Maine lobster and the spiny lobster, no matter where you want to buy it from. Also, there are two types: soft-shell and hard-shell lobsters.

You might also like our articles on the cost of lobster tail, Ahi tuna, or blue crabs.

Lobsters do not have only one color, red. There are blue lobsters as well.

Important things to consider

Lobster can be steamed or boiled in water with sea salt, bay leaves, onion, and pepper. Although it sounds simple, experienced chefs say that preparing seafood like lobster with a perfect texture is an art. For example, the cooking time differs according to the season: in the winter, lobsters have a harder shell and therefore require more cooking time, and in the summer months, the shell is softer and the optimal cooking time is lower.

If the pot in which the lobster is boiled is not large enough to allow the water to circulate around the crustacean, the meat will not be evenly cooked.

The cooking time of a lobster differs depending on its size. The shell of a well-cooked lobster is completely red and the meat is uniformly white with no translucent portions.

Before cooking the lobster, the first step is to prepare it. You have to pass it under a stream of clear water, to remove all impurities. Then, you can switch to the type of cooking you want.

How do you choose lobsters?

Do you know how to recognize a fresh lobster? If it has a thick skin, this is the promise of abundant meat. It is preferable to buy live lobster. This is why, when you buy it, you should check whether the lobster is alive. To do this, grab it by the sides – it will suddenly fold its tail under its body. If not, it could be proof that it is not so fresh anymore.

Lobster bought cooked must have a good smell, shiny black eyes, and firm meat. To find out if the lobster was alive before it was cooked, pull the tail and if it folds, everything is fine.

To preserve it, it is possible to keep fresh lobster in the refrigerator for a day. After it has been cooked, the lobster can be kept for up to two days.

Which are the additional expenses?

In case you need to purchase your lobster online, you will have to pay shipping fees, especially in case you don’t meet the minimum spending requirements. You should budget $30 to $40 for having the lobster delivered to your door.

Tips for saving money on the lobster price

The lowest possible price for lobster is on the Maine coast. If you live close to or visit this place, go to a local fish market or fisherman near the docks and you will find live Maine lobster at the price of less than $5 per pound.

When you buy lobster near the coast, it will always have the lowest price in season, which is from June to September.

Keep your eyes peeled for the promotions and sales available at your local grocery stores. You may find lobster at a lower price.