When is butter cheapest?

The best time to buy butter, from 8 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

A small season

Butter is cheapest in November, but the season is small.

Over 2018–2025, November ran a typical 3% below trend and January 2.1% above, and November was below trend in 7 of 7 years. Worth knowing if you buy a lot of butter or can stock up; otherwise a store sale beats the calendar.

November is the start of holiday baking, when stores put baking staples on sale.

Butter: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2018–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−6%−5%−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%+5%+6%Jan+2.1%January: typically 2.1% above trend (half of years between +0.4% and +2.2%; 7 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.8% above trend (half of years between +0.4% and +2.5%; 7 years)MarMarch: typically 1.2% above trend (half of years between −0% and +3%; 7 years)AprApril: typically 0.7% below trend (half of years between −1.4% and +0.3%; 6 years)MayMay: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −2.1% and +0.9%; 6 years)JunJune: typically 1.3% below trend (half of years between −2.5% and −0.2%; 6 years)JulJuly: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +2.1%; 6 years)AugAugust: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between +0.6% and +1.9%; 6 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −1.1% and +2.1%; 6 years)OctOctober: typically 0.8% above trend (half of years between +0.6% and +2.5%; 7 years)Nov−3%November: typically 3% below trend (half of years between −5% and −0.7%; 7 years)DecDecember: typically 2.6% below trend (half of years between −4% and −0.8%; 7 years)
cheaper than the year’s trend dearer middle half of years
See the numbers as a table
MonthTypical vs trendMiddle half of yearsYears
January+2.1%+0.4% to +2.2%7
February+0.8%+0.4% to +2.5%7
March+1.2%−0% to +3%7
April−0.7%−1.4% to +0.3%6
May−0.8%−2.1% to +0.9%6
June−1.3%−2.5% to −0.2%6
July+0.2%−0.8% to +2.1%6
August+0.9%+0.6% to +1.9%6
September+0.3%−1.1% to +2.1%6
October+0.8%+0.6% to +2.5%7
November−3%−5% to −0.7%7
December−2.6%−4% to −0.8%7

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of butter (per pound) was $3.98 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical November price is about $3.82 and the typical January price about $4.03.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month butter was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. November was the single cheapest month in 1 of 6 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20242024: cheapest in March20232023: cheapest in April20222022: cheapest in January20212021: cheapest in December20202020: cheapest in November20192019: cheapest in DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024March
2023April
2022January
2021December
2020November
2019December

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in November: what’s cheap in November. Dairy & eggs: eggs (Jun), milk (May), cheddar (Jun), ice cream (Jul). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is butter cheapest?

November. Over 2018–2025 the U.S. average price of butter in November was typically 3% below that year's trend, and below it in 7 of 7 years. January is the dearest month (2.1% above).

What is the most expensive month for butter?

January, typically 2.1% above the year's trend price.

How much is butter right now?

The U.S. average was $3.98 a pound in October 2026 (BLS Average Price Data).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), the shelf prices BLS collects every month for the Consumer Price Index, through October 2026. Seasonal pattern and every number on this page computed by Online List Maker; how.

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