Looking for an honest Butcher Box Review? I’m sharing one, including if ButcherBox is worth it, what it costs, and what you get with the service!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Click here to read my policy and more about affiliate links. This post was originally shared in April of 2018.
If you’re curious about ButcherBox, the meat delivery service everyone’s talking about – we’re sharing an unbiased review.
We’ve used the service for 5+ years so we’re clearly fans- but I’m sharing all of tips, info, butcher box reviews and answering all your questions below!
Table of Contents
What is butcherbox.com?
ButcherBox is a meat delivery service that delivers grass fed beef, free range chicken, heritage pork and salmon directly to your door.
All of the meat is free of antibiotics & hormones, and it arrives on dry ice so you can just pop it in your freezer + defrost as needed.
One of the most commonly asked questions I get when I post about the service is: Is ButcherBox worth it?
Butcher Box Prices per month
If you’re wondering how much does Butcher Box cost – they have options that range in cost from $146-$306.
- Curated Box (ButcherBox Selects the Meats for you)
- Classic Box: $146/month, 8-11 lbs meat
- Big Box: $269/month, 16-22 lbs meat
- Custom Box(You pick the meat you want)
- Classic Box: $169/month, 9-14 lbs meat
- Big Box: $306/month, 18-26 lbs meat
Types of Meat in ButcherBox
You can select if you want:
- Mixed Box (Beef, Chicken, Pork)
- Beef & Pork
- Beef & Chicken
- All Beef
- Custom Box
- ButcherBox has: salmon, bison, scallops, ground turkey & so much more- you can grab all of those cuts in a custom box
The Curated Box is pre selected and you can’t pick the cuts of meat you get. The Custom Box is the only option where you can select the types of meat you get.
We get a custom box delivered every month because we like to cook different things every month. Usually I will add on a member special/deal
ButcherBox offers their members different deals like 10lbs of ground beef for $49.99 or 12 lbs of chicken for $72. Usually I get the chicken one every other month because we eat a lot of chicken!
Pro Tip:
If you are a family of 4 who meats meat every week you will need a Big Box.
If you’re only 2 people, get a Regular box and add a few member deals or add ons before your finalize your box each month!
You can also select every month, or every other month for your delivery
ButcherBox Prices: Discount Code
We have a ButcherBox coupon link for you! It’s a special offer only for our readers!
When you join ButcherBox right now you can get free ground beef for a year & $10 off! Click here to try it.
Butcher Box Reviews
I love Butcher Box for a few reasons. Here is my ButcherBox Review:
ButcherBox Pros:
Here are some of the main reasons we love ButcherBox
- Convenience : The box arrives with all of the meat frozen + on dry ice. You don’t have to go to the store, or look out for sales to get the best prices…they deliver it right to you, and all you have to do is put it right into the freezer.
- Cost Effective: We’ll go over this in detail a little bit later on, but I went to 4 different grocery stores + reviewed prices at the meat department to see if ButcherBox’s prices held up to theirs. (Spoiler Alert: They do!)
- Taste: The taste of ButcherBox’s meat is unparalleled. Seriously, it’s restaurant quality!
- Quality: You’re getting grass fed, free range, heritage breed pork.. It is the best quality meat you can be finding!
ButcherBox Cons:
- Packaging – I try to live as low waste as possible, so I don’t love all the cardboard that gets wasted. Thankfully it is recyclable, but I still wish there was a better way!
- Planning Ahead: We get 95% of our meat from ButcherBox so it does require some thinking ahead. If we need specific things for a party or holiday- we have to make sure we order in time!
- Freezer space: The meat does take up significant freezer space. It was a tight fit when we lived in a tiny apartment with a small freezer!
When you try ButcherBox right now you can get free ground beef for a year & $10 off! Click here to try it.
What Comes In A Butcher Box:
ButcherBox has a lot of options for what comes in their boxes. Here are some of the options that you can select
- Beef: Stew Beef, Sirloin Tips, Ground Beef, Trip Tip, Burgers, Flat Iron Steaks, Beef Briskey, Bottom Round Roast, Shoulder Roast, Sirloin Cap, Eye of Round Roast, Ranch Steaks, NY Strip Steaks
- Chicken: Whole Chicken, Boneless Skinless Breasts, Chicken Tenders, Boneless or Bone-In Chicken Thighs, Ground Chicken, Drumsticks, Chicken Wings
- Pork: Ground Pork, Breakfast Sausage, Center Cut Pork Loin Roast, Boneless Pork Chops, Pork Sirloin Roasts, Bone in Pork Butt, Bacon, Pork Tenderloin
- Seafood: Salmon, Salmon Burgers, Cod
- Other: Ground Turkey, Ground Bison, Uncured Hot Dogs
ButcherBox Pros & Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
| Cost Effective if you’re used to buying organic meat | Expensive compared to conventional meat |
| Convenience | Packaging |
| Great Quality Meat | Need to plan ahead with orders |
| Tastes amazing | Freezer Space |
Comparing Butcher Box Prices
Grass fed/free range/good quality meat isn’t cheap. Buying conventional meat is significantly cheaper, and costs can be 50-100% higher if you opt for a grass fed option on something.
This is something I’m willing to splurge on. With this being said: I visited a few local grocery stores near me and found these prices for comparable quality (organic, free range, etc). ButcherBox was less expensive EVERY single time!
Whole Foods: I love Whole Foods, but their meat prices were by far the most expensive.
| Cut of Meat | Whole Foods | ButcherBox |
| Ground Beef | $7.50 | $7.50 |
| Bacon | $9.99 | $7.00 |
| Ground Turkey | $7.99 | $7.50 |
| Chicken Breasts | $8.99 | $8.30 |
Stop & Shop: Stop & Shop is a local grocery chain. They’re also called Giant, or Hannaford in other areas.
| Cut of Meat | Stop & Shop | ButcherBox |
| Ground Beef | $8.99 | $7.50 |
| Bacon | $8.99 | $7.00 |
| Ground Turkey | $7.99 | $7.50 |
| Chicken Breasts | $9.49 | $8.30 |
Costco doesn’t have the same quality of meat as ButcherBox and other grocers so I couldn’t do a true cost comparison.
- Ground Beef: $4.99 (grass fed but not grass finished)
- Chicken: $4.99 (organic but not free range)
I encourage you to look at your own local grocers + see what option makes sense for you.
ButcherBox vs Costco
I’ve gotten many questions about what the difference are between Costco meat and ButcherBox. Now I LOVE Costco (see all my costco favorites here) Here are my thoughts on Costco vs ButcherBox:
You’re paying for quality. Costco is lower quality meat than ButcherBox:
Chicken – Costco’s chicken is organic, but not free range. The Costco chicken typically comes with a lot of fat on it, and needs to be pounded to be tender. ButcherBox‘s chicken is basically all meat, and super tender. I prefer ButcherBox
Beef – Similar to the chicken, Costco’s beef is organic, but not grass fed/finished. Our Costco’s ground beef is $4.99, and with a BB member deal I got 10 lbs for $49.99. Making them the same price. This is a no brainer for me.. I skip the crowds at Costco, and have grass fed/finished beef delivered to me.
Pork – Our Costco does not sell any organic pork products (ribs, tenderloins, bacon). The pork Costco sells is lower quality, and therefore cheaper.
Steaks – Our Costco also does not sell organic or grass fed steak. Their steaks are a great price, and taste delicious – but if you want grass fed/organic – ours doesn’t have that option.
How to afford ButcherBox Prices on a budget
- Don’t order a custom box: The custom ButcherBox is the most expensive option, and really.. you don’t need it!
- Don’t order things you can get locally at a better price: I have a hard time finding good quality chicken and pork near me at great prices, so that’s what I fill my box up with. I find grass fed/grass finished beef is easier to find locally.
- Think about what you’re already spending. The price comparisons above really say it all.. grocery stores are expensive! Why wouldn’t you save a few bucks and enjoy the convenience of having your meat delivered?
Pro Tip for Saving $$
Shop ButcherBox‘s member deals! Select your 6 cuts for the month and check out the two tabs: ‘Add ons’ and ‘Deals’. Here you’ll find exclusive deals for ButcherBox members.
I like to stock up on ground beef, ground pork, and chicken here wherever I can. I usually will look at these and then strategically pick the other 6 cuts in my box!
Who is ButcherBox good for?
ButcherBox is good for:
- People who eat a lot of meat: We eat meat every day. I think BB is totally worth it
- Convenience: I don’t like going to the grocery store. Knowing that I always have my freezer stocked with meat is awesome
- People who want to eat good quality meat: I love that I can count on the quality of the meat from BB. I never have to research the farmers and where the meat is coming form because I know the standards they have!
Can you cancel ButcherBox?
You can easily cancel or pause your ButcherBox. We had to pause ours for a few months when we moved and it was super easy to do. You can also pause your shipment, or delay it!
You aren’t under contract with them for any amount of time.
Is Butcher Box trustworthy?
Yes, ButcherBox is totally trustworthy. If you’re looking for high quality meat that is organic, grass fed, and antibiotic free- I completely trust their sourcing process. They work with amazing farmers to find great quality meat!
Is butcherbox really grass fed? YES! ButcherBox is 100% grass-fed and grass-finished. It is guaranteed.
Is Butcher Box Worth It?
Personally, I think ButcherBox is totally worth the price. Between the convenience, amazing quality, and fair price – it seems like a no brainer to me!
When you join ButcherBox right now you can get free ground beef & $10 off! Click here to try!
ButcherBox FAQ
ButcherBox is without question better than Omaha Steaks If you care about the sourcing of your meat and things like organic, free range, antibiotic free ButcherBox is for you! Omaha Steaks are not certified organic and extremely expensive.
ButcherBox’s meat comes from all over the country/world. The beef comes from Australia, while their chicken comes from farms across the US. Their fish is wild caught throughout the country.
Yes, ButcherBox is good quality meat. It’s all organic, grass fed/grass finished ground beef, heritage bred pork, free range chicken.
ButcherBox Recipes:
- Cast Iron Steak Recipe
- Healthy Instant Pot Beef Barley Soup
- Paleo Beef Stew
- Whole 30 Unstuffed Pepper Bowls
- How to Cook Crispy Bacon
- Paleo Turkey Chili (You can sub ground beef here!)
- Burger Salad with Dill Pickle Vinaigrette
If you’re curious about Smoothie Box, a sister company to ButcherBox– check out this Smoothie Box Review I wrote!
Love subscription boxes? Check out our favorites!
- SmoothieBox Review – A smoothie subscription box
- Winc Review – A monthly wine subscription
- Trade Coffee Review– A coffee subscription box
- Daily Harvest Review – Another smoothie box subscription we love
- Is Thrive Market Worth It – A yearly subscription we have that is like Whole Foods meets Costco online
Favorite The Clean Eating Couple Recipes
- Cook Farro
- Banana Bread With Applesauce
- Healthy Dessert Ideas
- Instant Pot Applesauce Recipe
- Instant Pot Soup Recipes
- Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread
Scott says
Can you get items such as marrow bones or beef knuckle through them? It’s a pain to make beef stock, because my local Safeway is sad.
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Scott – It doesn’t seem like them have that listed in their options but I bet if you reached out to them they could help coordinate it! Typically I just look for a local farm to source that when I need it!
Bridget Hopkins says
I was able to get a big bag of beef bones through them. I have stock in the fridge now.
Dawn says
Do you know if their steak cuts, ie. NY Strip or Rib Eyes are Choice or Prime cuts?
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Dawn – Check out this post on the ButcherBox site: https://www.butcherbox.com/roam/chop-talk/what-do-the-different-meat-grades-mean/ Their meat is actually neither. They explain it all at the end of the post – it’s a good article!
Joseph Takacs says
Sounds very good. Could I get a regular box every other month???
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Joe – yes you could! Check out Butcherbox’s site to see all the different options for delivery 🙂
Jerry says
Once you sign up, can you cancel at any time? If so, any cancellation fees?
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Jerry – Yes – you can can cancel at any time and there are no cancellation fees. You can also pause or skip a month if you need to or set up so that your box is delivered bi-monthly.
Dawn says
How do you cancel your membership or auto ship ? Some auto ship programs are not easily canceled.
The Clean Eating Couple says
There is a whole section for how to cancel on their website. It’s very simple. Here’s the link with instructions on how to cancel!
Barbara says
Hi, I live in Los Angeles and have a lot of choices. However, I don’t always trust the sources. At Cosco, they may say organic or free range, but you don’t know how much range the chicken may have. I feel this service has picked the best sources and don’t have to worry.
The Clean Eating Couple says
I totally agree, Barbara. You really never know! I think ButcherBox has done a great job of finding reliable sources that are great quality!
alicia says
Thanks for the review was helpful for me. Your beef prices are way higher than mine here in Texas, but then again beef is a main food group in Texas. Just doesn’t compare to the prices per pound I can get at my local butcher shop buying in bulk.
The Clean Eating Couple says
You’re lucky!! I wish we could get more options locally, but it is very expensive here (I’m located in CT). That is awesome that it is much more affordable near you!
Beth says
Hello! Do you happen to know how long the two lbs. of ground beef offer will be available? My CSA has a protein share but they are changing their offerings/price structure and I want to wait till I know which will be the better buy. Thanks!
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Beth! The promo lasts until end of September. 🙂
Cat says
Thank you for a great review.
Would you need a huge freezer to keep all the meats? We rent an apartment and the fridge in the unit is tiny.
What carrier to they use to deliver the meats?
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Cat- Glad it was helpful! No you don’t need a huge freezer for the meats. We used to do this when we lived in our apartment and had a standard size fridge/freezer. It might require a little shuffling around on delivery day, but you shouldn’t have any issues with it. We get ours delivered through FedEx. I live in CT, and I’m not sure if they change their carrier depending on location throughout the country – but I bet if you contact their customer support they can help!
David says
How can I trust your review when in the introduction you have an affiliate link…… honest question.
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi David – I get pitched on average to join 5-10 affiliate programs EVERY day and say no. I’m only an affiliate for the brands I actually use and love, and long before I became an affiliate for ButcherBox – I bought and paid for this as a consumer on my own. I liked the service so much that I reached out to them about being an affiliate. You’ll find that on my site – there aren’t many affiliate posts or links, unless they are for brands or products that I personally use and like. Hope that helps!
Courtney says
If you’re in CT, you should really try Walden Local Meat… they’re like Butcher Box, but with all locally sourced meat and seafood from small New England farms. Plus they’re a registered B corp! I get my monthly deliveries from them and can also easily add on bones for stocks and organs for my dog which saves me sourcing them from local farms since Walden does it for me.
The Clean Eating Couple says
That sounds great! We really love ButcherBox though – they have a huge variety of cuts. It seems like they are similar in price and quality though so I’m sure that’s a great option!
Ana says
I appreciate you sent another email because i did not see this review on butcher box and my biggest issue with all meat and chicken for years now is the taste has changed and it’s definitely not appealing to me anymore. We are on a budget since i unfortunately stopped working about 7 yrs ago because of physical and health problems one of them being NASH. Lean meats is what i was looking for and liked the way u described the chicken. I can not make it past 2 bites of the stop and shop or bjs chicken breast lol Thanks again
The Clean Eating Couple says
Glad you found it helpful, Ana!
Scott says
I see the cuts of meat and they sound wonderful but I do not see things like bacon pork butt a whole loin ribs beef and pork brisket (the whole brisket) Plus there is no ham listed . If a hind quarter was listed I could make my own ham if pork belly was there I could make bacon and cut it how I like it. Is ground pork there? These are questions that I have otherwise it seems to be a great deal. Depending on the fat content of the ground beef making good patties need some fat
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Scott – The cuts of meat vary month to month depending on your location/stock. They always have bacon. Pork butt, pork loins and ribs are often there, as is brisket. They have hams available for holidays (usually a round Easter and Christmas) Ground pork is an add on that they offer and their beef is 85/15 – it’s delicioous! Hope this helps!
Dorothy Maurer says
I understand you want customers to join your “club” which sounds great. But our children are at opposite ends of the U.S. . Would I be able to send a gift package without a member ship? That’s what we do with Omaha steaks.
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Dorothy – This isn’t a ‘club’. You can send gifts and not purchase a membership. Here are some gift options from ButcherBox: https://www.butcherbox.com/shop/all-boxes
ed blinzler says
what grade of beef is bb ie usda choice, prime etc and it so marked
The Clean Eating Couple says
ButcherBox beef is grass fed and not marked (most, if not all grass fed beef is not graded) here’s a great article explaining it: https://joyce-farms.com/blogs/news/here-s-the-real-reason-most-grass-fed-beef-isn-t-usda-graded
Cindy Michell says
What is the deal right now with butcherbox? Free meat I mean. Thank you
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Cindy, it’s linked in the blog post. Free Ground beef for the lifetime of your membership.
Brad says
Hello!
I am interested, but will I be charged monthly if I get delivery every 8 weeks? Or is it $129/$149 per delivery?
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Brad – You can set the box to come every other month, which would be 8 weeks. You choose whether you want the $129 option (ButcherBox selects your meat) or $149 (you choose the meat)
Eva-Marie Tordoff says
Hi,
I want to give your service to my son as a gift. He has a small freezer. Is it possible to deliver smaller meat quanities?
The Clean Eating Couple says
Butcherbox comes in 2 different sizes – a smaller box and a bigger box. Without knowing the size of the freezer I can’t say for sure if the smaller box would work – but we used to live in an apartment with a small freezer and didn’t have an issue with it!
Beverly M says
Can I gift somebody a box .
The Clean Eating Couple says
Yes you can! Check out there site via this link. Click the ButcherBox icon at the top and then click ‘gifts’
Caitlin says
I’m confused about pricing. The $137 box with about 10 pounds of meat would come out to $13.70 but you’re saying that a pound of meat is in the $7-8 range. Where did you get those numbers?
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hi Caitlin – the lbs of meat per box varies. You can add on meat in each box and it has a fixed price per pound. That’s where I go the numbers from. They are not the average cost numbers if that make sense.
Ryan says
Don’t forget the ribeyes under the beef options – I get mostly ribeyes from BB!
Brian Thomas says
You forgot to mention how great the seafood choices are, Wild Salmon used to be a delicacy that I rarely ate since fish farm salmon sucks and has no color. Im on carnivore and I mostly only eat BB, I live alone and get a big box every month and a half and it works out for me knowing that all the food in my freezer is legit.
Jessie says
Hi! I’m not seeing how you got your price per pound…. If the classic box is $169 for 11 lbs, even with the extra 2 lbs of ground beef, that’s $13 per pound. Not the $7.50 that you say… Am I miscalculating? I want this to be a reasonable deal, but I’m not seeing it…
The Clean Eating Couple says
Hey Jessie! When you’re a ButcherBox member you have the opportunity to access their member deals. One of them is buying ground beef in bulk at a discounted price. That’s where the math comes from. If you give ButcherBox a try you’ll be able to see the member deals page. The prices are so much cheaper. We get the smallest ButcherBox and then select add ons for any additional meat we need, it’s the most affordable way to use ButcherBox
Speechick1969 says
Thank you for this review – so helpful and good to know it is not a bad deal. Do Fish Fixe next please!!
Kathleen says
Hi do any of the meat selections taste gamie? I purchased meat from a local heritage beef farm and it tasted super gamie which I didn’t like.
The Clean Eating Couple says
I don’t think the meat tastes gamey at all! We love it!