When is ice cream cheapest?

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

A small season

Ice cream is cheapest in July, but the season is small.

Over 2006–2025, July ran a typical 1.8% below trend and January 2.1% above, and July was below trend in 16 of 19 years. Worth knowing if you buy a lot of ice cream or can stock up; otherwise a store sale beats the calendar.

Ice cream: 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+2.1%January: typically 2.1% above trend (half of years between +1.3% and +3%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.6% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +2.7%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.6% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +1.8%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 1% above trend (half of years between −0% and +2%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 1.1% below trend (half of years between −2.2% and +0.5%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 1.2% below trend (half of years between −2.3% and +0.2%; 19 years)Jul−1.8%July: typically 1.8% below trend (half of years between −3% and −1%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 1.1% below trend (half of years between −2.6% and +0.2%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −2.2% and +1.2%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.8% above trend (half of years between −0.1% and +2%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −1.5% and +2%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −1% and +1.3%; 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+2.1%+1.3% to +3%20
February+0.6%−0.8% to +2.7%20
March+0.6%−0.8% to +1.8%20
April+1%−0% to +2%19
May−1.1%−2.2% to +0.5%19
June−1.2%−2.3% to +0.2%19
July−1.8%−3% to −1%19
August−1.1%−2.6% to +0.2%19
September−0.4%−2.2% to +1.2%19
October+0.8%−0.1% to +2%19
November+0.1%−1.5% to +2%19
December+0.1%−1% to +1.3%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of ice cream (for a half gallon) was $6.03 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical July price is about $5.88 and the typical January price about $6.11.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month ice cream was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. July was the single cheapest month in 2 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around.

20242024: cheapest in March20232023: cheapest in June20222022: cheapest in December20212021: cheapest in December20202020: cheapest in November20192019: cheapest in June20182018: cheapest in May20172017: cheapest in November20162016: cheapest in November20152015: cheapest in July20142014: cheapest in June20132013: cheapest in May20122012: cheapest in August20112011: cheapest in May20102010: cheapest in September20092009: cheapest in March20082008: cheapest in June20072007: cheapest in July20062006: cheapest in AugustJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024March
2023June
2022December
2021December
2020November
2019June
2018May
2017November
2016November
2015July
2014June
2013May
2012August
2011May
2010September
2009March
2008June
2007July
2006August

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in July: what’s cheap in July. Dairy & eggs: eggs (Jun), butter (Nov), milk (May), cheddar (Jun). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is ice cream cheapest?

July. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of ice cream in July was typically 1.8% below that year's trend, and below it in 16 of 19 years. January is the dearest month (2.1% above).

What is the most expensive month for ice cream?

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

How much is ice cream right now?

The U.S. average was $6.03 a half gallon 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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