Drive-Thru Display Cost Calculator

Calculate Your True Drive-Thru Display Investment

Get a comprehensive cost breakdown including hardware, installation, maintenance, and 5-year total cost of ownership for outdoor digital menu boards.

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Location Configuration

How many locations are you planning to equip?

Number of Locations Bulk pricing applies at 10+ locations

Drive-Thru Lanes per Location

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Display Configuration

Configure your pre-sell and menu board setup

Pre-Sell Screens per Lane

Menu Board Screens per Lane

Order Confirmation Display (OCD)

Screen Size

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Hardware Specifications

Select brightness and durability options

Display Brightness Higher nits = better sun readability

Enclosure Type

Media Player

Mounting Solution

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Installation & Services

Professional installation and ongoing support

Professional Installation Certified technicians, electrical prep, mounting

Network Infrastructure Cables, switches, outdoor-rated conduit

CMS Software License Content management, scheduling, analytics

Extended Warranty (5 Years) Parts & labor, priority support

Preventive Maintenance Contract Quarterly visits, cleaning, health checks

Total Investment $--

Per Location $--

Per Screen $--

Category Breakdown

5-Year Total Cost of Ownership

Year 1 $--

5-Year TCO $--

💡 Pricing Note: Estimates as of December 2024. Actual hardware, installation, and recurring costs vary by vendor, region, and project complexity. Request a custom quote for your project.

Static vs Digital Comparison

Static Boards $--

Digital (5-Yr TCO) $--

Digital displays break even after -- years with menu change savings.

Request Custom Quote

💡 Key Cost Factors

Brightness: Higher nit displays cost more but are essential for sun exposure
Enclosure: IP65+ ratings add 15-25% but extend lifespan significantly
Volume Discounts: 10+ locations typically get 10-15% hardware savings
Installation: Varies by region, existing infrastructure, and complexity

📈 ROI Considerations

Digital menus eliminate $500-1,500/year per location in print costs
Dynamic pricing & dayparting can increase revenue 3-8%
Reduced order errors save approximately 2-4% of revenue
Average payback period: 18-36 months

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a drive-thru digital menu board cost?

A complete outdoor digital menu board system typically costs $8,000-$25,000 per lane point, including: commercial-grade outdoor display ($2,500-$6,000), weatherproof enclosure ($3,500-$8,000), media player ($200-$600), installation ($500-$2,000), and first-year CMS licensing ($150-$600). Total investment varies by screen size, brightness, and configuration.

What brightness (nits) do I need for outdoor menu boards?

For direct sunlight visibility: 2,000-3,000 nits minimum. Shaded locations may work with 1,500-2,000 nits. Consumer TVs (300-500 nits) fail outdoors—they're unreadable in daylight and lack weatherproofing. Higher brightness = higher cost, but essential for drive-thru visibility.

What is included in a complete drive-thru digital system?

A full system includes: Pre-sell board (promotional content before ordering), Main menu board(s) (1-3 screens typically), Order Confirmation Display (OCD) at pickup, weatherproof enclosures, media players, mounting/installation, CMS software subscription, and optional: speakers, microphones, networking equipment.

What is the 5-year TCO for drive-thru digital displays?

5-year Total Cost of Ownership includes: initial hardware + installation (Year 1), plus recurring costs: CMS subscription ($15-30/screen/month), electricity (~$85/screen/year), warranty/maintenance (2-5% of hardware annually). For a 3-location, 4-screens-per-location deployment, expect $120,000-$250,000 over 5 years.

Why are outdoor displays more expensive than indoor?

Outdoor commercial displays require: high-brightness panels (5-10× brighter than TVs), weatherproof IP65+ rated enclosures, industrial cooling/heating systems, anti-glare coatings, tempered glass protection, and commercial-grade components rated for 24/7 operation. These factors can make outdoor displays 3-5× more expensive than indoor equivalents.

How do I calculate ROI for drive-thru digital menu boards?

Compare TCO against benefits: reduced print costs (typical $2,000-5,000/year saved), labor savings on menu changes, potential 3-8% sales lift from dynamic content and dayparting, reduced order errors from visual confirmation. Most deployments achieve 18-36 month payback.

Calculate Your True Drive-Thru Display Investment

Location Configuration

Display Configuration

Hardware Specifications

Installation & Services

💡 Key Cost Factors

📈 ROI Considerations

📄 Get Your Customized Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

💰 Cost Calculation Methodology

Hardware Cost Factors

Installation Cost Components

Recurring Cost Model

Volume Discounts

Data Sources