When are chicken legs cheapest?

The best time to buy chicken legs, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

Barely moves

Chicken legs barely have a season: buy them when you need them.

The cheapest month (January) runs only 1.2% below trend and the dearest (August) 0.9% above: on $1.75 a pound that’s about 4¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Chicken legs: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%Jan−1.2%January: typically 1.2% below trend (half of years between −3% and +0.3%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −1.9% and +0.5%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.8% and +0.8%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.2% below trend (half of years between −1.3% and +1.9%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.2% and +1.3%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.6% above trend (half of years between −1.3% and +2.1%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.4% and +1.5%; 19 years)Aug+0.9%August: typically 0.9% above trend (half of years between −0.3% and +2%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.8% above trend (half of years between −0.2% and +2.7%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −1.1% and +1.7%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −1.7% and +1.4%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.1% and +0.7%; 19 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−1.2%−3% to +0.3%20
February−0.4%−1.9% to +0.5%20
March−0.5%−1.8% to +0.8%20
April−0.2%−1.3% to +1.9%19
May−0.5%−1.2% to +1.3%19
June+0.6%−1.3% to +2.1%19
July−0.1%−1.4% to +1.5%19
August+0.9%−0.3% to +2%19
September+0.8%−0.2% to +2.7%19
October+0.1%−1.1% to +1.7%19
November+0.2%−1.7% to +1.4%19
December−0.3%−1.1% to +0.7%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of chicken legs (per pound) was $1.75 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical January price is about $1.72 and the typical August price about $1.76.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month chicken legs were cheapest relative to that year’s trend. January was the single cheapest month in 4 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in February20232023: cheapest in February20222022: cheapest in July20212021: cheapest in July20202020: cheapest in January20192019: cheapest in January20182018: cheapest in January20172017: cheapest in July20162016: cheapest in February20152015: cheapest in May20142014: cheapest in January20132013: cheapest in April20122012: cheapest in October20112011: cheapest in December20102010: cheapest in March20092009: cheapest in September20082008: cheapest in April20072007: cheapest in October20062006: cheapest in JuneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024February
2023February
2022July
2021July
2020January
2019January
2018January
2017July
2016February
2015May
2014January
2013April
2012October
2011December
2010March
2009September
2008April
2007October
2006June

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in January: what’s cheap in January. Meat: turkey (Dec), ham (Apr), bacon (Feb), pork chops (Jan), sirloin steak (Feb), steak (Dec), beef roast (Oct), chuck roast (Jan), ground beef (Feb), chicken breast (Jan), whole chicken (Oct). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month are chicken legs cheapest?

January. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of chicken legs in January was typically 1.2% below that year's trend, and below it in 14 of 20 years. August is the dearest month (0.9% above).

What is the most expensive month for chicken legs?

August, typically 0.9% above the year's trend price.

How much are chicken legs right now?

The U.S. average was $1.75 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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