How Much Does 60 Pounds of Shrimp Cost? A Detailed Look at Shrimp Prices, Sizing, and Serving Suggestions

Shrimp is one of the most popular seafood options in the United States. Its versatility in recipes, mild flavor profile, and nutritional value make it a pantry staple for many home cooks and professional chefs alike But when planning a large dinner or event, figuring out how much shrimp to buy in bulk can get confusing fast

Specifically, a common question that comes up is how much does 60 pounds of shrimp cost?

To properly answer this, we first need to understand how shrimp is sized and sold commercially. Once we have that background knowledge, we can better calculate the price tag on 60 pounds of shrimp based on typical market rates. We’ll also look at how to estimate the number of people that 60 pounds of shrimp can serve.

How Shrimp Is Sized and Sold

Unlike seafood like lobster that is sold at a fixed price per pound, shrimp is priced and sold according to a “count per pound”. This count refers to the approximate number of individual shrimp contained in each pound.

For instance, a size label of “21/25 count” means there will be 21 to 25 shrimp in each pound. The lower the count number, the larger the individual shrimp size.

Here is a general sizing chart for the common commercial shrimp counts:

• Extra Colossal – Under 10 shrimp per pound
• Super Colossal – Under 12 shrimp per pound
• Colossal – Under 15 shrimp per pound
• Extra Jumbo – 16 to 20 shrimp per pound
• Jumbo – 21 to 25 shrimp per pound
• Extra Large – 26 to 30 shrimp per pound
• Large – 31 to 35 shrimp per pound
• Medium Large – 36 to 40 shrimp per pound
• Medium – 41 to 50 shrimp per pound
• Small – 51 to 60 shrimp per pound
• Extra Small – 61 to 70 shrimp per pound

As the chart illustrates, a 60 count shrimp falls on the smaller side of the spectrum. However, exact shrimp sizing labels can vary slightly between different suppliers. To get the clearest sense of shrimp size, focus on the numerical count rather than descriptive terms like “jumbo” or “colossal” when possible.

Typical Per Pound Prices for 60 Count Shrimp

Now that we understand how sizing works for shrimp, we can examine the typical per pound prices for 60 count shrimp from several major seafood retailers and wholesalers:

• FreshDirect – $13.99 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• SeafoodSource – $11.00 to $14.00 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• Asian Food Grocer – $9.99 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• Catfish Wholesale – $10.49 per lb for 60 count shrimp
• Cleaned Shrimp – $12.99 per lb for 60 count shrimp

As you can see, pricing can fluctuate a bit depending on the specific vendor. But in general, 60 count shrimp lands in the $11 to $14 per pound range from most major suppliers.

Regional availability and seasonal supply and demand factors may also impact costs in your area. But for planning purposes, budgeting $11 to $14 per pound works as a decent national average for 60 count shrimp.

Calculating the Cost of 60 Pounds of 60 Count Shrimp

With the typical per pound pricing ranges in mind, we can now estimate the total cost of buying 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp:

• 60 lbs of 60 count shrimp
• Average price of $12.50 per lb
• 60 lbs x $12.50 per lb = $750

So if you were buying in bulk, 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp would cost roughly $750 on average.

Of course, your exact total cost will depend on your retailer’s specific pricing. Some may be in the $600 range while high-end seafood vendors could charge over $800. But this gives you a reasonable ballpark estimate for budgeting purposes.

And since shrimp freezes well, buying large quantities like 60 lbs can provide great savings compared to purchasing smaller amounts weekly or monthly. Many retailers even offer tiered bulk discounts at 60+ pounds, lowering the per pound price as you buy more.

Estimating Serving Sizes for 60 Pounds of Shrimp

The final consideration when buying shrimp in bulk is figuring out approximately how many people that amount will serve. Here are some general serving size guidelines for shrimp:

• Appetizer – Allow 2-3 medium/large shrimp per person
• Main Course – Allow 5-7 large/extra large shrimp per person
• Shrimp Boil – Allow 6-8 oz (about 8-12 shrimp) per person since shells are on

Given 60 count shrimp are on the smaller side, let’s assume 7 shrimp per person for an entree.

• 60 lbs of 60 count shrimp = approximately 960 total shrimp
• Serving 7 shrimp per person, 960 shrimp will serve 135 people

So in total, 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp should comfortably provide a main course seafood dinner for 130 to 140 guests.

You may need to adjust up or down slightly depending on appetite and whether you serve other items. But in general, 60 pounds of peeled 60 count shrimp can serve over 100 people when used as an entree protein.

Key Takeaways on Pricing and Serving 60 Pounds of Shrimp

To recap the key details on pricing, sizing, and serving suggestions for purchasing 60 pounds of shrimp:

• 60 count shrimp are on the smaller end of the size spectrum, with around 50-70 shrimp per pound
• Expect to pay approximately $11 to $14 per pound for 60 count shrimp from most seafood suppliers
• 60 pounds of 60 count shrimp will cost roughly $600 to $800 total on average
• 60 pounds of shrimp can provide a main course serving for 130 to 140 guests
• Buying bulk shrimp delivers cost savings compared to smaller quantities
• Pay attention to numerical counts, not just size descriptors like “large” or “jumbo”
• Properly stored frozen shrimp has a long shelf life, making bulk buys convenient

Understanding shrimp sizing, accurate pricing, and realistic serving estimates is crucial to getting the best value and usage from large bulk shrimp purchases. And when freezing and thawing properly, fresh-frozen shrimp can be a smart, budget-friendly option for feeding big gatherings.