Drive Thru menu boards are essential for outlets such as quick-service restaurants (QSRs), fast-food chains, coffee shops, and other quick-service-oriented businesses. A good Drive Thru menu board increases the satisfaction of the customers and sales figures and makes the service flow easier.
In this article, we give full answers to the most common questions about Drive Thru menu boards—their types, size options, costs, manufacturers, and practical tips.
FAQs About Drive Thru Menu Boards
1. What Are Drive-Thru Menu Boards?
Drive Thru menu boards are fitted at the ordering point of a Drive Thru to give information digitally or statically. By including menus, costs, deals, and health info, these boards motivate customers to make a decision quickly.
Types of Drive Thru Menu Boards:
- Exterior Menu Boards: Fixed at the front of the restaurant for drivers to see the options clearly as they pass by.
- Digital/LED Menu Boards: Dynamic displays with changeable content.
- Static Menu Boards: Unchanging, fixed menus displayed for everyone to read.
- Fast Food Drive Thru Menu Boards: Designed for high-speed service.
- Coffee Drive Thru Menu Boards: Focusing on fast food and mini meals.
2. Why Are Drive Thru Menu Boards Important?
Drive Thru menu boards are essential in fast food and QSR operations because they influence not only how customers perceive your service but also how efficient your service is.
Increase Sales: Properly designed, appealing boards encourage customers to choose other products, thus raising the overall sales.
Improve Efficiency: Simple updates and visible information help to speed orders and reduce errors.
Enhance Branding: A consistent design contributes to brand recognition, which means that your customers will be able to identify your restaurant easily.
Adapt to Changes: The real-time digital updates allow you to change promotions at the drop of a hat, thus allowing your restaurant to respond quickly to customer needs and new market conditions.
3. What Are the Standard Drive Thru Menu Board Sizes?
The size of your Drive Thru menu board is dependent on such things as the nature of the restaurant, the distance at which it is to be viewed, and how complicated the menu’s information is.
Common Sizes:
- Small (Coffee Shops):” 36”–48” width,” 24”–36” height
- Medium (Fast Food):” 48”–72” width,” 36”–48” height
- Large (Full-Service QSRs):” 72”–96” width,” 48”–60” height
- Digital Menu Boards: The best visibility is obtained with dimensions between 55” and 75”, giving customers a clear view of the board from a distance.
4. How Much Do Drive Thru Menu Boards Cost?
Drive Thru menu board costs can vary widely based on whether the material, technology, or personal features are customized to meet your needs.
Pricing Breakdown:
- Static Menu Boards: $500–$3,000
- LED Backlit Boards: $2,000–$6,000
- Digital/LCD Menu Boards: $5,000–$15,000+
Additional Costs:
- Installation: $500–$2,000
- Content Management Software (for digital boards): $50–$300/month
Remember that the listed prices are approximate and may vary depending on the site and optional customizations selected.
5. Who Are the Top Drive Thru Menu Board Manufacturers?
When purchasing Drive Thru menu boards, ensure you select a reputable company that promises strong, reliable, and high-quality displays.
Top Manufacturers:
Samsung: They are famous for digital signage and provide advanced and innovative display technology.
LG: Displays that are sturdy and work well outside.
NEC Display: Centers on the production of robust, high-performing digital signs for outdoor use.
Peerless-AV: Features panels designed to be durable for harsh outdoor conditions for outdoor use.
Daktronics: Lead vendor providing high-level LED technology for use in drive-thrus.
US Sign & Fabrication: Highly respected for manufacturing robust static boards designed to meet rough conditions.
Choosing a Manufacturer:
Ensure that you choose displays with weather-resistant construction, easy content update options (digital boards), and reliable support from your manufacturer.
6. What Are the Best Materials for Exterior Drive Thru Menu Boards?
When conditioned on rough weather outside that requires Drive Thru menu boards, they must be made from resilient materials to ensure longevity.
Best Materials:
Aluminum: The lack of rust, combined with light weight, makes aluminum a perfect choice for exterior signage.
Acrylic: Providing shatterproof and UV-resistant properties, these signs are perfect for withstanding rough sunlight.
Stainless Steel: World-famous for its refined finish and longevity in condition.
Polycarbonate: Impact-resistant, perfect for backlit boards.
Additional Features:
Anti-Glare Coating: Ensures that your menu is always clearly visible regardless of lighting conditions due to the anti-glare coating.
Heated Displays: Works well in freezing conditions to avoid fogging and allow legibility of signage.
7. How Do Digital Drive Thru Menu Boards Work?
Digital menu boards depend on LCD or LED screens accompanied by a content management system (CMS) to show information.
Key Features:
Remote Updates: Menu content can be changed as fast as possible, ensuring your board is always up to date.
Dayparting: Change between menu items according to the hour of the day to indicate breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Dynamic Pricing: Prices can be changed on the basis of sales trends or particular promotions.
Integration with POS: Updates pricing and menu item data when new orders are made in your order system.
Benefits:
Higher Engagement: Animated graphics attract more attention and attract customers better than static menus.
Lower Long-Term Costs: By eliminating the need to reprint, your business can gain long-term cost savings.
8. How to Design an Effective Drive Thru Menu Board?
Drive Thru menu board design is effective when it addresses clear and appealing content for drivers.
Best Practices:
Prioritize Readability: Choose font styles and sizes that ensure visibility to customers from a distant point.
Highlight High-Margin Items: Focus more on high-margin products by strategically using colors and where they are to be displayed.
Keep It Simple: Highlight key items on the menu and ensure the general content is uncomplicated to ensure clarity for the customers.
Use High-Quality Images: Add value to the visual with pictures of professional quality.
Ensure Proper Lighting: Install illuminated signage, either with LED lights or backlighting, to maintain the visibility of the menu even after dark.
9. What Are the Latest Trends in Drive Thru Menu Boards?
With Drive Thru menu boards improving, many industry trends have begun to surface.
Trends to Watch:
AI-Powered Personalization: Menus are presented that vary their offerings in accordance with the customer’s background or a specific time of day, which offers personalized suggestions.
Voice-Activated Ordering: Prepares voice recognition technology for efficient, contactless ordering operations.
Sustainability: Boards that adopt solar power or are energy-efficient in design, thus reducing cost.
Augmented Reality (AR) Menus: Interactive aspects that provide customers with dynamic 3D images of the menu options available.
10. How to Maintain Drive Thru Menu Boards?
Proper maintenance ensures that your Drive Thru menu boards are working and efficient for customers year after year.
Maintenance Tips:
Clean Regularly: Ensure that the screens or surfaces are clean to avoid them from becoming dirty, which may obscure visibility.
Check Lighting: Replace burnt-out bulbs in backlit boards and ensure digital signs are sharp and highly visible.
Update Content: Don’t forget to keep your promotions and listed prices current with what’s available.
Inspect for Damage: Fix screen damage, electrical faults, and malfunctions immediately to ensure seamless functioning.
Drive Thru Menu Boards: The Key to Streamlined Service and Enhanced Customer Experience
For any restaurant that provides such a service, it is necessary to install effective Drive Thru menu boards. Every one of the factors, including the type of board, size, material, and manufacturer, contributes to creating an impact on how customers perceive your restaurant and what you are in terms of revenue.
When you know how much the menu boards cost, how they are sized, and the current trends in the Drive Thru menu boards, you are in a position to choose one that will enhance efficiency and improve sales.
Do you need a custom Drive Thru menu board? Work with top manufacturers to find the best menu board for your restaurant!
