Many of us will buy live lobster online as we round out the holiday season. But buying the prized crustacean comes at a price, and it can be an expensive one. Lobster consumers placed a high demand on the type of seafood during the 2021 season. Even toward the end of the year, prices and demand continue to shoot through the roof. So, we had to ask ourselves, what has caused the higher prices and will the surge continue into the new year?
| Category | Company | Most Popular Size | Average $/Lobster Dinner* | Customer Ratings | Go To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highest Customer Ratings | Lobster Anywhere | 2 lb. | $335 | 5.0 | |
| Best for Sustainability | Crab Place | 2 lb. | $280 | 4.5 | |
| Best for Lobster Tails | Cameron’s Seafood | 12 oz. | $350 | 4.7 | |
| Best Variety | Fulton Fish Market | 2 lb. | $270 | 4.6 | |
| Best for Lobster Meat | Wulf’s Fish | 1 lb. | N/A | 4.8 | |
| Most Frequent Discounts | Get Maine Lobster | 1.5 lb. | $275 | 4.9 | |
| Best Website Experience | Winter Harbor Lobster Co-Op | 1.5 lb. | $335 | 4.6 | |
| Best for Smaller Lobsters | Sanders Lobster Company | 1.5 lb. | $270 | 4.5 |
*Estimated cost of one item in the company’s most popular size.
What Are Normal Lobster Price Trends?
Lobster prices typically fluctuate throughout the season based on a couple of factors. The first is, the demand for lobster leads to a price fluctuation. Coming out of the lockdown era of the coronavirus pandemic, many people were looking to splurge with their spending. For some people, they may have held off on spending money on live lobster online during 2020.
The second reason for the higher prices is the amount of lobster that catchers bring in during the season. Catchers will set prices for producers or buyers based on how many lobsters they can sell. In turn, the company selling you lobster will often have to adjust their prices merely to turn a profit. Even so, lobster prices generally decline as the summer months progress. During that time, catchers will often gather more lobster. However, the 2021 prices remained high for the entire summer and into the autumn months.
How Much Did Lobster Cost in 2021?
Local lobster retailers kept their prices steady in the first week of November for three years. From 2018 to 2020, the lobster retailers sold large lobsters for $9.99 per pound in that first week. In 2021, they raised the price to $16.99 per pound and it has maintained that pricing since July. Overall, the price of live lobster online remained stable throughout the year when compared to previous years.
Though not ideal for consumers, the industry welcomed the price increases. Overall, the coronavirus pandemic caused prices to take a plunge. Lobster catchers have found that increased catch prices have helped to stabilize the recuperating industry.
How Much Lobster to Buy Online
Despite the higher than usual prices, people still want to buy lobster. For that reason, we can likely expect similarly high prices in 2022. Regardless, you should consider where you buy it. Some chains will charge higher fees for discretionary food like lobster to avoid raising other prices related to necessities. Consider buying any lobster directly from online seafood vendors.
You can order live lobster online straight to your doorstep. First, you should know how much lobster you want. Then, make sure that you select the best size crustacean for your meal. We happen to know that you can buy anything from live 1.25-pound Maine lobsters to live jumbo Maine lobsters that weigh over 5.5 pounds. Keep in mind that you do hold some responsibility when ordering live lobster. Make sure that you prepare a cool place for you to store it.
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