What If Eggs Went Up To $10 for a Dozen?
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Levi Leidy
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The humble egg has become the unexpected poster child for inflation. Prices hit a record high in March 2025 at $6.22 per dozen — that’s an 84% increase since the beginning of 2024 — but what if they went even higher? Could they go as high as $10?
The USDA predicts that egg prices will continue to rise in 2025. Which means the current record prices are only going to increase even more. Some stores in Michigan are already charging $10 for a dozen cage-free eggs, and that’s a price point that could soon become the national norm rather than the exception.
Why Are Egg Prices Skyrocketing?
The primary culprit behind rising egg prices is the devastating avian flu outbreak. Farmers have been forced to kill millions of birds. According to Reuters, the “bird flu outbreak has killed nearly 170 million chickens, turkeys and other birds since 2022.”
Ohio has been hit the worst, where 10 million birds have been affected. And Pennsylvania has lost over 2 million birds to the outbreak. The USDA protocol is that whenever there is a confirmed case, the entire flock must be slaughtered. Every time this happens the supply is diminished more and more, while demand remains just as strong as ever.
President Trump’s new tariffs are only adding to the crisis. The U.S. has increasingly relied on imports from countries like Turkey, Brazil and South Korea to supplement domestic egg supplies. These imported eggs would help to ease the supply shortage, but not if they’re hit by high tariffs. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins confirmed this possibility in a Fox Business interview, saying there would be “short-term uncertainty from tariffs.”
How $10 Eggs Would Impact Your Budget
If egg prices reach $10 per dozen nationwide, the impact on household budgets would be significant:
- A family that consumes two dozen eggs per week would spend over $1,000 annually just on eggs
- Restaurant prices would continue to climb — one Ohio establishment is already reporting a $50 increase in wholesale egg costs
- Processed foods which contain eggs would see price increases, too, as manufacturers pass costs to consumers
How To Prepare For $10 Eggs
Stock Up Strategically
Hoarding is discouraged (and some stores are already limiting purchases to one carton per customer), but if prices dip temporarily, buying an extra carton can be a smart move. Just watch the expiration dates — eggs typically last three to five weeks in the refrigerator.
Explore Alternatives
Consider egg alternatives for baking and cooking:
- Applesauce, flax seed or mashed bananas work great in many baking recipes
- Tofu is a delicious substitute for eggs in scrambles and some other dishes
- Commercial egg replacers (like the popular one from Bob’s Red Mill) are available for baking
Adjust Your Meal Planning
If you’re able to reduce your reliance on egg-heavy meals, it can help keep costs down. Instead of having eggs for breakfast every day, try to incorporate more oatmeal, yogurt or whole-grain options.
Monitor Your Overall Food Budget
Tariffs are affecting numerous food categories. Eggs are just one part of the rising food costs. For example, other items that might see big price increases due to tariffs include alcoholic beverages from Mexico and canola oil from Canada.
When Will Relief Come?
According to Reuters, egg prices have begun declining in recent weeks from the all-time highs they hit previously. Wholesale prices still remain 60% higher than last year, however. For prices to decrease substantially, farmers will need time to repopulate their flocks. Either the bird flu outbreak must subside, or consumer demand must drop significantly.
Until then, plan your meals carefully and shop strategically. These are challenging economic times, but with just a little resourceful thinking, you can get through it successfully.
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