High demand for delicious crab meat can sometimes cause crab populations to suffer, and restrictions on allowable catch increases the price. King crabs are incredibly large, which makes catching them a dangerous job. Choppy, freezing waters and huge machinery increase danger for king crab fishers, and drive up market prices for the crabs themselves.
Demand for king crab in Japanese markets is huge, which can cause stress on domestic markets and increase king crab legs cost per pound. Price is also determined by how many king crab legs per pound the customer is purchasing. King crab legs are currently anywhere from $35 to $65 per pound, depending on the time of year the crab is purchased, and which retailer is chosen.
Whether you’re looking for Alaskan crab legs market price or the most premium option out there, we’ll point you in the right direction. Refer to the price grid below to see what you should expect to spend on crab legs. You’ll also find some of our favorite reputable providers.
King Crab Legs Prices
| Company | Price/lb | Minimum Order | Shipping | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Seafoods | $35.00 | 5 lbs | $16.20 | |
| Crab Place | $42.29 | 1 lb | $29.95 | |
| Fulton Fish Market | $51.00 | 2 lbs | Free | |
| Seabear Smokehouse | $63.60 | 2.5 lb | $19.99 | |
| Cameron’s Seafood | $65.99 | 3 lbs | $39.99 |
Influences On Snow Crab Legs Price
Snow crab was declared overfished in 1999, and has since seen restrictions on allowable catch. These restrictions have driven market prices higher than normal. Like king crab, snow crab’s high prices are due to sustainablity measures that are in place to preserve crab populations amidst high market demand. A high crab legs price for snow crab was around $5 per pound until about 2010. Now, high prices are anywhere from $20 to $36 per pound. Snow crabs are purchased as sections, also called “clusters,” that include 4 walking legs and a claw arm. These “clusters” are graded 3/5 ounces, 5/8 ounces, and 8 ups.
Influences On Dungeness Crab Legs Price
The Dungeness crab industry profits from a fairly long fishing season, which goes from early winter until early summer. In 2017, there were toxic levels of domoic acid along the California coast that caused the Dungeness crab fishery to actually shut down catch and production. The presence of domoic acid also caused delays for the Dungeness crab industry in parts of Oregon and Washington. These halts were felt not only that year, but in the following years as the industry fought to reopen and recover. Whole Dungeness crabs are graded 1.5 to 2 lbs., 2 to 2.5 lbs., 2.5 to 3 lbs., and 3 ups. Dungeness crab legs price hovers between $19 and $45 per pound, its high numbers likely reflective of industry struggles in the last few years.
How To Purchase Crab Legs Per Person
Hosting a crab feast requires a bit of forethought. Check in with guests about how interested they are in crab meat, as this check-in will help gauge how many crab legs to purchase per person.
Adults usually eat about 1 to 2 pounds of king crab legs, and huge crab fans might need anywhere from 2 to 3 pounds. Estimating about a 1/2 pound to 2 pounds of snow crab clusters per person is safe, and about 2 pounds per person is recommended for Dungeness crab.
All of these measurements can be halved if the crab is an appetizer, or one part of a much larger meal. Grabbing the best price on crab legs will likely come from buying them in-season, buying in bulk, or joining a buying club.
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