Everything a restaurant, café, or coffee shop actually pays to go digital — software, screens, installation, and design — broken down line by line.
The short answer:
- Software: $8 per screen, per month, billed annually ($96/screen/year).
- Free TX9 stick: annual plans include a free TX9 Android TV stick with every screen.
- Screen: a 43" commercial-grade TV, roughly $600–$900.
- Installation: typically $250–$350/screen for standard wall mounting — or free if you DIY it.
- Menu design: optional — start with our free built-in templates, or a custom layout for a one-time $200 fee per menu (3 menus = $600).
If you've priced out digital menu boards, you've probably noticed that no two quotes look alike. That's because "digital menu board cost" is really four separate line items bundled together — software, hardware, installation, and design — and every vendor packages them differently. This guide breaks each one down so you know exactly what you're paying for before you sign up.
What you're actually paying for
A digital menu board isn't one purchase — it's a small system. Here's what typically makes up the total:
Cloud software subscription — billed annually. Covers content management, remote updates, scheduling, and support.
A 43" commercial-grade display, rated for all-day, every-day operation (not a consumer TV — more on that below).
Wall installation by a local AV installer or handyman. Optional if you're comfortable mounting the TV and running the cable yourself.
Free to start with one of our ready-made menu templates, or $200 per custom menu layout built by our design team.
1. Software subscription — $8/screen/month
This is the part that never goes away: the cloud dashboard that lets you update prices, swap out items, run dayparting (breakfast menu in the morning, dinner menu at night), and push changes to every screen — instantly, from your phone or laptop, no reprints and no ladders.
At $8/screen/month billed annually, that's $96 per screen, per year. Sign up on the annual plan and E Display includes a free TX9 Android TV stick — the small media player that plugs into your TV's HDMI port and actually runs the menu board software. Bought separately, a comparable Android signage stick typically runs $50–$80, so the annual plan effectively pays for itself in hardware savings alone.
Multiple screens, one dashboard. Whether you're running one screen or twenty across several locations, everything is managed from a single login — update one menu or all of them at once.
2. The TV — what a 43" screen actually costs
E Display doesn't manufacture screens, so you have two paths: buy a 43" commercial display through us, or source your own. Either works with the software — but the TV itself is where quotes vary the most, because "43-inch TV or any other size TV" covers a wide price range depending on grade.
| Display type | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer/retail 43" TV | $250–$400 | Budget setup (not rated for continuous use) |
| Commercial-grade 43" display (recommended) | $600–$900 | Menu boards running 16+ hrs/day, 7 days a week |
| High-brightness / outdoor-rated 43" | $1,200–$1,600+ | Drive-thrus, windows, direct sunlight |
Why grade matters: consumer TVs are typically built for 5–7 hours of daily use and aren't warrantied for always-on commercial operation. A commercial-grade panel is built to run all day, every day — it costs more upfront but the difference between a display that lasts 2+ years and one that lasts 5+ years. Additionally, the commercial grade display comes with 3-years warranty from the manufacturer
3. Installation — DIY or a local installer, $250–$350/screen
Once you have a screen, someone has to mount it and plug it in. E Display doesn't provide installation services directly, so you have two options:
- DIY ($0): If you're comfortable with a wall mount and a stud finder, you can install it yourself in under an hour. The TX9 stick and cabling are plug-and-play — no special tools needed beyond a standard TV bracket.
- Local installer ($250–$350/screen): Most electronics installers, AV companies, or handyman services in your area can mount a standard 43" display and plug in the media player for a flat fee in this range. This typically covers wall-mount labor only — electrical work, data cabling, and structural blocking (if your wall doesn't already have a stud to mount into) usually cost extra, since every site is different.
If you're installing more than one screen, ask your installer for a multi-screen rate — doing them all in one visit is usually cheaper per screen than booking separate appointments.
4. Menu design — free, or $200 per custom menu
Your last decision is how the menu itself looks. You don't need a designer to launch:
- Free template (most customers start here): E Display includes ready-made menu board templates built for food and beverage layouts — just drop in your items, photos, and prices, and you're live the same day.
- Custom design — $200 per menu, one-time: If you want your menu board designed around your specific brand colors, fonts, and food photography, our design team will build it for you for a one-time $200 fee per menu design — so three different menus would be $600. After that, you manage day-to-day price and item changes yourself — no ongoing design cost.
Putting it all together: sample cost scenarios
Here's what three common setups actually cost in year one, and what they cost every year after.
Scenario A — Single screen, DIY, free template
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 43" commercial display | $670 |
| Installation (self-install) | $0 |
| Menu design (free template) | $0 |
| Software (annual, incl. free TX9 stick) | $96 |
| Total — Year 1 | $766 |
Year 2 onward: just the $96/year software renewal.
Scenario B — Single screen, full service
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 43" commercial display | $670 |
| Local installer (mid-range estimate) | $300 |
| Custom menu design | $200 |
| Software (annual, incl. free TX9 stick) | $96 |
| Total — Year 1 | $1,266 |
Installation ranges $250–$350 depending on your installer and site — $300 is the midpoint used here. Year 2 onward: just the $96/year software renewal (design is one-time).
Scenario C — 3-screen café buildout, full service
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| 43" commercial displays ×3 | $2,010 |
| Local installer ×3 (same-visit rate) | $900 |
| Custom menu design ×3 ($200 per menu) | $600 |
| Software (3 screens × $96/yr, incl. 3 free TX9 sticks) | $288 |
| Total — Year 1 | $3,798 |
Year 2 onward: $288/year total ($96 × 3 screens). If all three screens share a single menu design, the design line drops to $200 and the Year 1 total to $3,398.
Where Scenario B's $1,266 actually goes
Notice that the software subscription — the part billed yearly — is actually the smallest slice of first-year cost. Hardware and installation are the one-time investment; after that, your only ongoing cost is the $8/screen/month subscription.
Ways to bring the cost down
- Start with the free template. You can always upgrade to a custom design later — there's no rush to spend $200 per menu on day one.
- Bundle installations. If you're hiring a local installer for multiple screens, ask for a same-visit rate — it's cheaper per screen than booking separate appointments.
- Always choose annual billing. Quarterly plan skip the free TX9 stick — annual billing is what unlocks it.
- DIY the mount if you can. The hardware is plug-and-play; if you or your staff can handle a wall bracket, that's $250–$350 saved per screen.
- Consider a consumer-grade TV to start. A $250–$400 consumer TV will connect with our TX9 Stick just fine or you can install our digital signage software App if its an Android TV.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to buy my TV through E Display?
No — the $8/screen/month software works with any 43" (or other size) commercial or consumer grade display and our TX9 stick or a compatible Android media player..
What size screen do I actually need?
43" or above 43 inch is the most common size for counter and wall-mounted menu boards in cafés and quick-service restaurants — readable from the counter line without dominating the wall. Larger drive-thru or multi-panel setups are priced separately.
Is the $200 design fee recurring?
No — it's a one-time fee per menu design; three different menus would be $200 each ($600 total), charged once. After that, you make your own day-to-day updates (prices, items, photos) inside the software at no extra charge.
Does E Display handle installation?
Not directly — E Display focuses on the software and hardware. For mounting, most customers either DIY it or hire a local AV installer or handyman, which typically runs $250–$350/screen for standard wall mounting. That rate usually doesn't include electrical work, data cabling, or adding wall studs if your wall doesn't already have blocking to mount into — ask your installer for a site-specific quote on those.
Get a quote sized to your space
Tell us how many screens and locations you're working with, and we'll put together an exact cost breakdown — no guesswork.
Pricing shown reflects E Display Inc.'s published rates as of July 2026 and general commercial display market ranges; hardware and installation costs vary by location, site conditions, and screen quantity. Contact us for an exact quote.
