When are potato chips cheapest?

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

Barely moves

Potato chips barely have a season: buy them when you need them.

The cheapest month (February) runs only 1.3% below trend and the dearest (October) 0.8% above: on $6.64 a 16 oz bag that’s about 13¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Potato chips: 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%JanJanuary: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −1.9% and −0.3%; 20 years)Feb−1.3%February: typically 1.3% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and −0.4%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +1.9%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −0.3% and +1.1%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −1.4% and +1%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.6%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.1% above trend (half of years between −0.8% and +0.9%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.2% below trend (half of years between −0.7% and +0.8%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0% above trend (half of years between −0.9% and +0.9%; 19 years)Oct+0.8%October: typically 0.8% above trend (half of years between −0.2% and +1.4%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.2% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +0.9%; 19 years)DecDecember: typically 1% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.4%; 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−0.9%−1.9% to −0.3%20
February−1.3%−1.6% to −0.4%20
March+0.5%−0.7% to +1.9%20
April+0.3%−0.3% to +1.1%19
May+0.3%−1.4% to +1%19
June−0.1%−0.9% to +1.6%19
July+0.1%−0.8% to +0.9%19
August−0.2%−0.7% to +0.8%19
September+0%−0.9% to +0.9%19
October+0.8%−0.2% to +1.4%19
November+0.2%−0.7% to +0.9%19
December−1%−1.6% to +0.4%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of potato chips (for a 16 oz bag) was $6.64 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical February price is about $6.50 and the typical October price about $6.64.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month potato chips were cheapest relative to that year’s trend. February 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 August20232023: cheapest in February20222022: cheapest in January20212021: cheapest in December20202020: cheapest in January20192019: cheapest in October20182018: cheapest in February20172017: cheapest in February20162016: cheapest in December20152015: cheapest in October20142014: cheapest in November20132013: cheapest in May20122012: cheapest in September20112011: cheapest in February20102010: cheapest in April20092009: cheapest in May20082008: cheapest in January20072007: cheapest in January20062006: cheapest in JuneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024August
2023February
2022January
2021December
2020January
2019October
2018February
2017February
2016December
2015October
2014November
2013May
2012September
2011February
2010April
2009May
2008January
2007January
2006June

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in February: what’s cheap in February. Pantry: flour (Nov), sugar (Dec), coffee (Dec), rice (Feb), pasta (Oct), bread (Jan), cookies (Mar). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month are potato chips cheapest?

February. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of potato chips in February was typically 1.3% below that year's trend, and below it in 15 of 20 years. October is the dearest month (0.8% above).

What is the most expensive month for potato chips?

October, typically 0.8% above the year's trend price.

How much are potato chips right now?

The U.S. average was $6.64 a 16 oz bag 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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