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The size of your digital menu board can make or break your customers' dining experience. Too small, and you risk having your carefully crafted content go unnoticed; too big, and you could overwhelm the space and confuse customers.
Choosing the right menu board size ensures that customers can easily digest your menu at a glance, which improves their decision-making process and reduces wait times. But how do you determine the best fit for your space?
This guide will break down everything you need to know to make an informed decision—from understanding common screen sizes and their ideal applications to considering the factors that influence readability and visual impact.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Menu Board Size
Restaurant Layout and Space Availability
Your restaurant’s layout is the first thing you should consider when choosing your menu board size. If you have a small space, a massive screen can dominate the room and look out of place. Conversely, a tiny screen in a large, open space will go unnoticed and feel out of proportion.
- Measure the available space: This includes wall height and width, as well as proximity to other fixtures like windows, counters, and seating areas.
- Consider viewing distance: Will customers be viewing the menu up close or from a distance? Make sure the size you choose fits within the average viewing range for clarity and comfort.
Viewing Distance and Angle
The distance between your customers and the screen significantly impacts readability. For instance, a 32-inch screen might work well in a small coffee shop where customers stand close to the counter, but it will be difficult to read in a larger fast-casual restaurant where people view it from further away.
- General rule: For every 10 inches of screen size, consider a viewing distance of 4-6 feet. This ensures that text and images remain sharp and legible without forcing customers to move closer.
- Positioning matters: Screens positioned too high or low can strain customers’ necks, while those set at awkward angles can cause glare and reduce visibility.
Content Type and Amount
Are you displaying just text, or you planning to include images and video content? The more visual your menu, the larger your screen should be to accommodate all elements without looking cramped.
- Text-heavy menus: Opt for medium to large screens (43-55 inches) to keep the text legible and prevent overcrowding.
- Image and video-heavy menus: Larger screens (55 inches and above) will allow you to showcase visuals without sacrificing text size or clarity.
Restaurant Environment and Lighting
If your space is a brightly lit area, having screens with higher brightness levels is necessary to ensure that content remains visible. Conversely, for dimly lit or mood-lit environments, you’ll want screens that are calibrated to reduce glare and provide optimal contrast.
- Choose high-brightness screens (400-700 nits) for bright areas: This will prevent your menu from washing out.
- For darker environments: Look for screens that can automatically adjust brightness levels and feature anti-glare technology.
Common Digital Menu Board Sizes for Restaurants
32-inch Digital Menu Boards
This compact size is ideal for small establishments with limited wall space, like coffee shops or dessert parlors. A 32-inch display is easy to install and perfect for menus that don’t require a lot of information or imagery.
- Best For: Small cafés, promotional displays, and compact spaces.
43 to 50-inch Digital Menu Boards
The 43 to 50-inch range provides a good balance between visibility and space efficiency, making it one of the most popular sizes for quick-service and fast-casual restaurants. This size is ideal for displaying daily specials, limited-time offers, and category breakdowns.
- Best For: Quick-service restaurants, medium-sized spaces, and multi-category menus.
55 to 65-inch Digital Menu Boards
Larger screens like these are best for expansive menus or establishments with higher customer foot traffic. They provide plenty of space to incorporate images, videos, and detailed menu descriptions without compromising legibility.
- Best For: Full-service restaurants, open-plan dining areas, and high-traffic locations.
Ultra-Wide Screens (Stretched Displays)
Ultra-wide screens are an innovative option for restaurants that want to showcase multiple items in a visually striking manner. They’re particularly useful in locations where vertical space is limited but horizontal space is abundant.
- Best For: Split-screen displays, large menus, and wide installations like bars or food courts.
In this article we have picked the most relevant screen models, read also: Digital Signage Hardware Selection - Ultimate Buyer's Guide
Single vs. Multiple Menu Board Setup
The configuration you go with will influence how customers interact with your content, navigate your offerings, and ultimately, how they perceive your brand.
Single-Screen Menu Board Setup
A single-screen menu board setup works best in environments where the menu is relatively simple and straightforward. Think coffee shops, dessert parlors, or food trucks that have limited menu items and focus more on speed and efficiency. With a single screen, you can display all your offerings in a concise format that is easy for customers to scan and understand, which helps reduce ordering time.
But there’s a catch. With only one screen, you’re limited by space, and cramming too much content into a single display can create clutter. You might also struggle with showcasing promotions or seasonal items effectively. This setup is best suited for establishments that want a minimalist design and do not change their menus frequently.
Multiple Screen Menu Board Setup
A multiple-screen menu board setup provides far more flexibility and is ideal for restaurants with extensive menus or those looking to create a more dynamic visual experience. Multi-screen setups allow you to split your menu into logical categories, like appetizers, main courses, and desserts, making it easier for customers to locate what they want.
This type of setup also gives you the ability to dedicate individual screens to promotions, digital advertisements, or even interactive content like social media feeds. Having more screens means more space for creativity, and it’s easier to ensure that all your content is legible and visually appealing. It also opens up possibilities for larger font sizes and more prominent images that enhance overall readability.
Read also: How to Set up Digital Menu Boards with Look DS
Menu Board Size and Content Legibility
Font Size and Readability: The font size should be proportional to the viewing distance. A good rule of thumb is to use a minimum font size of 20 pixels for standard viewing distances. The further away your customers are from the screen, the larger the font should be.
Image and Video Clarity: Screens with at least a 1080p resolution are suitable for most scenarios, but if your restaurant relies heavily on visuals, consider investing in 4K screens. The high resolution ensures that your images and videos appear sharp and vibrant, enhancing the overall appeal of your menu.
Spacing and Layout
Your menu layout should provide enough spacing between text, images, and menu sections to prevent the screen from looking overcrowded. A good layout directs the viewer’s eyes naturally from one section to another, making the ordering process smoother and more intuitive. Proper spacing also allows you to use visual cues, like icons and dividers, to separate categories and highlight promotions.
How Digital Menu Board Size Affects Customer Experience
Impact on Customer Decision-Making
A clear, legible menu can speed up the decision-making process by making it easy for customers to navigate through your offerings. When customers can quickly find what they’re looking for, they’re less likely to hold up the queue, which improves service speed and overall satisfaction. A well-organized multi-screen setup can also highlight high-margin items or popular dishes, to subtly guide customers’ choices.
Engagement and Interaction
A larger screen or multiple screens can also accommodate interactive or animated content, that draws customers’ attention and encourages engagement. This could be as simple as a scrolling ticker with daily specials or as complex as interactive touchscreens that allow customers to customize their orders. Larger screens also enable the richer use content like videos and animations, making the customer experience more memorable.
Cost Implications of Different Digital Menu Board Sizes
Initial Setup Costs
Smaller screens (like 32-inch displays) are generally more affordable, both in terms of the initial purchase and the cost of mounting and installation. Larger screens, especially those with higher resolutions, will have a higher upfront cost. However, if your restaurant requires multiple screens or a high-quality display for content-rich presentations, the additional investment can be justified by the enhanced customer experience.
Operational Costs
Bigger screens with higher resolutions consume more energy, which can increase your operational costs. You should also consider the cost of maintaining these screens, especially if you’re running a 24/7 operation. Using energy-efficient screens or those with automatic brightness adjustments can help manage these expenses.
Read also: The Real Cost of Digital Menu Boards
Why Choose Look Digital Signage for Your Menu Board Setup
By now, you probably have an ideal screen size in mind for your business, which begs the question: how do you go about managing your displays to maximize the impact of your menu boards? You don’t have to look any further than the Look Digital Signage software. Here is why:
Seamless Integration Across All Screen Sizes
With Look Digital Signage, you get a platform that’s built to integrate effortlessly with any screen size. The software automatically adjusts your content to fit different screen resolutions and aspect ratios, ensuring your menus always look crisp and visually appealing, no matter the display configuration you’re working with.
Additionally, the system supports 4K playback if your hardware allows, so your videos and images maintain their high quality and sharpness on any screen size.
Advanced Features for Dynamic Displays
Look DS gives you dynamic content management features like smart scheduling, live data integrations, and the ability to automate updates to your menu board from third-party apps through Zapier.
You can also include interactive elements like touch overlays for larger screens thanks to the Scenes feature which lets you turn your menu boards into engaging kiosks.
Free Customizable Templates for Restaurants and Cafés
Creating a professional-looking menu has never been easier, thanks to Look’s free editable templates library specifically designed for restaurants, cafés, and bars. You can customize these templates to match your branding and update regularly at no additional cost.
Read also: Revive Your Restaurant with Free Digital Menu Board Templates for Displays
Remote Management for Real-Time Updates
From a single dashboard, you can update menu items, change playlists, or even troubleshoot issues. You can also group screens and assign specific playlists to these groups, allowing you to control what’s displayed in each branch or zone with just a few clicks.
Finding the Ideal Menu Board Size for Your Restaurant
Choosing the right menu board size will help you create an experience that draws customers in and helps them make decisions more quickly and comfortably. The ideal size should complement your restaurant’s layout, highlight your offerings clearly, and maintain readability from any viewing distance.
With Look Digital Signage, you have access to a platform that supports flexible display configurations, dynamic content options, and reliable performance across various screen sizes—all while offering tools specifically tailored for restaurant environments.
Discover how Look Digital Signage can help you create stunning, impactful menu boards that capture attention and enhance the customer experience. Sign up for a 14-day trial period today - it’s free!
