Restaurant billboard advertising works best when you put one craveable photo, your name and "next exit" on a digital billboard along the road hungry people already drive. At E&J, business billboards start at $400+ for 4 days, a 15-minute business shoutout is $150, design is free, and all E&J prices include tax.
Here's what it costs, what to say, when to run it, and how to start without a marketing department.
👉 Restaurant and hospitality billboards · call or text (888) 999-3241 · free design · approved within 72 hours.
Why restaurants use billboards
People decide where to eat in the car. Somebody's hungry, somebody says "where should we go?", and whatever they just saw wins. A billboard puts your food in front of them at that exact moment, on the road leading to your door.
It also makes a small spot look like a big deal. The family taqueria, the new brunch place and the food truck get the same size screen as the chains.
And no, it doesn't cost what you think. Billboards start at $150.
How much does restaurant billboard advertising cost?
Business shoutout: $150 for 15 minutes, $250 for 1 hour
4 days: $400+
1 week: $1,000+
2 weeks: $1,200+
3 weeks: $1,600+
4 weeks: $2,000+
Monthly local package: from $500+ a month
All E&J prices include tax. Business prices have a plus because the final price depends on your city, the board and availability. Your agent confirms it before anything is booked.
Premium and Spectacular boards cost more. Bus shelters start at $300+ in select markets.
Split your billboard payment into 4 easy payments with Afterpay or Klarna.
Your ad rotates with other advertisers on a loop of about 2 to 5 minutes. Play counts are estimates.
Full table: billboard pricing.
10 restaurant billboard ideas
The money shot. One close-up of your best plate. Steam, cheese pull, crispy edges. Food sells food.
"Next exit" or "Next right." Directions beat clever. Tell them exactly where you are.
The grand opening. Run it the week you open so the neighborhood knows you're there.
Lunch near offices. Run weekday late mornings on boards near work areas.
Dinner on the drive home. Run late afternoons on the commute out of town.
The late-night crowd. Bars, wings and tacos: run evenings on the way home from events.
The new menu item. One item, one photo, one line.
Holiday hours and catering. "Now booking holiday catering" works well before big family weekends.
The food truck "find us." Tell people where you'll park this week.
The game-day special. A deal tied to the local team's schedule.
What to put on a restaurant billboard
Drivers get a few seconds. Give them three things:
Your name or logo
One reason to come (a dish, a deal or a feeling)
Where to find you (exit, street or "Next right")
Keep your headline to seven words or fewer. Big text. Bright colors that pop against the sky.
Stop doing this:
Putting your whole menu on the board
Small phone numbers nobody can read at speed
Dark food photos that look muddy from the road
QR codes on highway boards (nobody can scan at highway speed)
Design is free with E&J. Want to see it first? Preview your ad on a real board with the shoutout builder.
How to start (3 steps)
Send the ZIP code where your customers drive. We send you the digital billboards near it. Nationwide.
Send your logo, photo and offer. We design it free, and you approve it.
Approval, invoice, live. The billboard owner approves the ad (approved within 72 hours), you pay your invoice, and it goes live. Nothing starts until the invoice is paid.
Planning around a date? Book at least 72 hours ahead, and don't count weekends. Earlier is better for openings and holidays.
Every campaign gets a real agent, not a call center, so you're not figuring it out alone.
How to know if your billboard worked
You don't need software:
Ask every guest: "How did you hear about us?" Keep a tally by the register.
Billboard-only offer: "Say BILLBOARD for a free dessert." Count how many say it.
Billboard-only link or phone number used nowhere else.
Post the billboard on social. Film it and share it so it gets seen twice.
Write your numbers down after every run. That's how you decide whether to go longer or add a second location.
Common mistakes
Choosing the cheapest board instead of the right road. Location beats price.
Running the wrong hours. Breakfast ads at night don't help anyone.
Saying too much. One dish, one line.
Starting too late. Weekends don't count toward the 72 hours.
Running once and quitting. People need to see you more than once.
What if my budget is tight?
Start small. A 15-minute business shoutout for a grand opening, or a 4-day run around one weekend, shows you what a billboard does before you commit to a month. Some markets also have bus shelters from $300+. More ideas: Small Billboard Budget Tips.
Your 5-minute task
Write your billboard in seven words or fewer: your name, your best dish, and where to find you.
Do it yourself, or let E&J do it
You can follow these steps yourself, or let E&J handle it. A live agent helps you pick the board, our team designs it free, and it's approved within 72 hours. See restaurant billboards or call or text (888) 999-3241.
Searching "build boards" for your restaurant? We know what you meant: billboards.
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Restaurant billboard FAQ
How much does a restaurant billboard cost?
Business shoutouts are $150 for 15 minutes or $250 for 1 hour. Campaigns start at $400+ for 4 days, $1,000+ for 1 week and $2,000+ for 4 weeks. Monthly packages start at $500+. All E&J prices include tax.
Do billboards work for restaurants?
They work best when the board is on a road your customers already drive, the message is short, and you track results with a billboard-only offer or by asking guests.
What should a restaurant billboard say?
Your name, one reason to come, and where to find you, in seven words or fewer, with one great food photo.
How fast can my restaurant billboard go live?
Campaigns are approved within 72 hours, not counting weekends, and go live after your invoice is paid.
Can I change my restaurant ad for lunch and dinner?
Ask your agent. Multiple ads are allowed during the 4-Month Campaign, and your agent can tell you what each board allows.
Can I pay for a restaurant billboard over time?
Yes. Split your billboard payment into 4 easy payments with Afterpay or Klarna.