How Much Does Pork Butt Cost Per Pound?

Pork butt, also known as Boston butt or Boston shoulder, is a popular and flavorful cut of pork that comes from the upper part of the shoulder It’s often used for pulled pork, roasting, smoking, or braising But if you’re looking to cook up some pork butt at home, how much does this cut usually cost per pound?

In this article, I’ll break down the typical price range for pork butt per pound and the factors that influence cost. I’ll also give some money saving tips to help you get the best deal Let’s dive in!

What is Pork Butt?

First, a quick primer on exactly what pork butt is.

Despite the name, pork butt doesn’t actually come from the rear end of the pig. It’s cut from the top part of the shoulder, near the front legs.

It’s called “butt” because back in colonial New England days, cuts of pork like shoulder were packed into barrels called “butts” for storage and transportation. The name stuck even after the pork was cut into roasts and steaks.

Pork butt is sold bone-in or boneless. It’s a naturally flavorful cut with marbling and connective tissue that gets tender and juicy when cooked low and slow. It’s especially well suited for pulled pork, but also great for roasting, smoking, braising, or stewing.

Typical Price Range Per Pound

The price of pork butt can vary quite a bit depending on factors like the store, location, quality, and whether it’s bone-in or boneless.

Here is an overview of the typical per-pound price range:

• Bone-in Boston butt: $1.50 – $3 per pound
• Boneless Boston butt roast: $2.50 – $4 per pound

As you can see, boneless roasts tend to cost about $1 more per pound compared to bone-in. And there’s about a $1.50 spread within each type.

Of course, prices will fluctuate a bit based on sales, promotions, and other factors. But in most grocery stores, you can expect to pay somewhere in these ranges. Warehouse clubs like Costco tend to have lower prices.

At specialty butcher shops or for higher end heritage breed pork, expect to pay toward the higher end or potentially more. The cheapest prices will generally be found at large mainstream supermarkets.

Factors Affecting Price per Pound

What makes the price per pound of pork butt vary within that typical range? Here are some of the key factors:

• Bone-in vs boneless – Boneless roasts cost more per pound since some weight is lost when the bone is removed. You pay for the convenience.

• Sales and promotions – Check weekly ads for pork butt sales driving the price down. Holidays like Memorial Day have deals.

• Store type – Small butcher shops or high end markets will charge more than big chains like Walmart.

• Organic or heritage breeds – Specialty pork with certifications or from heirloom breeds costs more per pound.

• Location – Prices can vary regionally based on availability and livestock costs.

• Season – Prices dip in the warmer months when people grill more pork.

As you can see, there are a lot of variables at play. To get the best deal, look for bone-in, conventional pork butt from a major grocery chain while it’s on sale or seasonally discounted.

Money Saving Tips

Here are some of my best tips for keeping down the cost per pound when buying pork butt:

• Buy bone-in instead of boneless to save around $1 per pound. The bone is easy to remove after cooking.

• Check weekly newspaper ads and clip coupons for pork promotions at major supermarkets.

• Buy in bulk when pork butt goes on sale. Break it down into freezer bags for later.

• Ask your grocer for rainchecks if a sale item is out of stock so you can still get the deal when more come in.

• Shop warehouse club stores like Costco that consistently have low prices on pork.

• Consider buying a whole shoulder rather than pre-cut roasts to save.

• Watch for markdowns on pork expiring soon and cook it right away or freeze.

With some strategic shopping, you should be able to consistently buy pork butt for around $2 per pound or less.

Typical Per Pound Cost for a 5-10 Pound Pork Butt

To make it more concrete, here’s a look at the typical total price ranges for common pork butt sizes:

• 5 pound pork butt

  • Bone-in: $7.50 – $15
  • Boneless: $12.50 – $20

• 7 pound pork butt

  • Bone-in: $10.50 – $21
  • Boneless: $17.50 – $28

• 10 pound pork butt

  • Bone-in: $15 – $30
  • Boneless: $25 – $40

At around $2/lb for bone-in or $3/lb for boneless, a 7-10 pound pork butt will generally cost you $20-40 depending on the specifics. Go for a sale price and you can often get a butt in the ~$20 range.

Is Pork Butt a Good Value?

Compared to other popular cuts of pork, pork butt provides excellent value:

• Pork chops: $3.50 – $7 per pound
• Pork tenderloin: $4 – $7 per pound
• Bacon: $6 – $8 per pound

You get the most meat for your money buying pork butt. And it’s one of the most flavorful cuts – perfect for slow cooking, pulling, and shredding into BBQ. For budget-friendly meals, it’s a top choice.

You can stretch your pork butt further by:

• Making tacos, sandwiches, soups etc. with the pulled meat
• Using leftover pulled pork in fried rice, pasta, omelets, etc.
• Serving pulled pork over baked potatoes instead of a steak

A little pork butt goes a long way!

The Bottom Line

So how much should you expect to pay for pork butt? For bone-in, you’ll typically find prices ranging from $1.50 to $3 per pound. Boneless roasts jump up to around $2.50 to $4 per pound.

Exact costs per pound will depend on the specific store, promotions, cut, quality, and other factors. But with some price tracking and strategic shopping, you can often find pork butt for under $2 per pound.

Compared to other pork cuts, it provides great flavor and portion size for the money. Watch for sales, buy bulk, and use portions creatively to get the most from your pork butt!