Egg Prices: What a Dozen Costs Now
How much are eggs right now?
The U.S. average price for a dozen grade A large eggs was $2.27 in September 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Average Price series. That is down about 35 percent from $3.49 a year earlier and far below the $6.23 peak of March 2025, when avian flu had cut the laying flock. Store prices spotted in early November 2026 ran lower than the national average at the big chains: $1.94 a dozen at Walmart and $2.29 at Kroger for their store brands.
We track the federal average price for eggs every month, next to the shelf prices we can verify, so you can tell whether your store is expensive or eggs are.
The trend, month by month
The Bureau of Labor Statistics prices eggs in stores across the country every month. Here is the recent arc of that series, retrieved November 10, 2026:
| Month | Average price per dozen | Change from a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $2.27 | -35% |
| August 2026 | $2.27 | -37% |
| June 2026 | $2.14 | -43% |
| March 2026 | $2.35 | -62% |
| December 2025 | $2.71 | |
| September 2025 | $3.49 | |
| March 2025 (peak) | $6.23 |
October 2025 has no published value in the BLS series. Prices are U.S. city averages for grade A large eggs, not seasonally adjusted.
What changed
The egg story of the last two years was a supply shock: avian flu outbreaks in 2024 and early 2025 shrank the laying flock, and the average dozen peaked at $6.23 in March 2025. As flocks were rebuilt through 2025, the average fell almost every quarter, and by September 2026 eggs were back in their pre-shock range. Nothing about demand changed much; families did not fall out of love with eggs. When a price move is this large and this one-directional, the cause is almost always supply, and supply shocks unwind. The practical lesson is to treat spike prices as temporary when you can: substitute for a few months rather than permanently rewriting the meal plan around a panic price.
What families actually pay
The BLS average blends every store and brand, including the premium cartons. The big chains' store brands usually run under it. These are online list prices we could verify in early November 2026; shelf prices vary by store and week, and Aldi does not publish prices online, so it cannot be included honestly.
| Store brand | Price per dozen | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart (Great Value, 12 ct) | $1.94 | Early November 2026, retailer listing |
| Kroger (12 ct) | $2.29 | Early November 2026, retailer listing |
| U.S. average, all stores (BLS) | $2.27 | September 2026 |
What this means for your budget
A family going through two dozen eggs a week spends about $19.70 a month at the September 2026 average. The same habit cost about $30.20 a month in September 2025 and would have cost about $54 at the March 2025 peak. Eggs are once again one of the cheapest proteins in the store, which makes this a good season for the egg-based dinners (frittatas, fried rice, breakfast for dinner) that stretch a grocery budget. For the full picture of where your cart stands, run your weekly total through the grocery budget calculator against the USDA bands.
Frequently asked questions
Why were eggs so expensive in 2025?
Avian flu outbreaks in 2024 and early 2025 forced the culling of tens of millions of laying hens, and egg supply fell faster than demand could adjust. The BLS average price peaked at $6.23 a dozen in March 2025. As flocks were rebuilt, the average dropped back to $2.27 by September 2026.
Why is my store's price different from the tracker's?
The tracker shows the national average across many cities and store types, plus dated spot checks of big-chain store brands. Your store's shelf price depends on your region, the brand, and the week. If your store brand is well above the BLS average for months at a time, that is a store choice, not a market fact, and worth comparing against a competitor.
How often is this page updated?
Monthly, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes each month's average prices. The store spot checks are refreshed when we re-verify them, and the page always shows the date they were checked.
Keep exploring
Other trackers: Milk prices · Bread prices · Diaper prices
All trackers: price trackers · Costs by state: grocery costs by state and family size · Tools: Grocery budget calculator · Family budget planner
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price data, series APU0000708111 (eggs, grade A, large, per dozen, U.S. city average), retrieved November 10, 2026. Store prices: Walmart and Kroger online listings, early November 2026. Tracker method: how we check our prices. Last updated November 10, 2026.