How to Design a Menu Board Layout That Boosts Orders

Imagine you walk into your own restaurant, like the customer for a moment. You head straight for the menu board — because that’s exactly what everyone else does. Within seconds, you need to decide what to order. Is your menu board making that decision easy? 

Is it guiding people to your best sellers and more profitable combos? Or does it overwhelm and drive them to default to familiar items or, worse, walk away to another place?

If you’ve ever wondered why some restaurants get higher-margin items flying off the shelves while others can’t move their slow sellers, it often comes down to the little details of digital menu board design. These details can make or break a customer’s experience. 

So let’s dig in and see how to refine your menu layout into a smooth, sales-boosting machine.

Why Layout Matters More Than You Think

It’s easy to underestimate the importance of menu layout. After all, if the items and prices are listed, shouldn’t customers just find what they want? In reality, layout can profoundly influence purchasing behavior. Customers often make split-second judgments and can be subtly guided by how information is presented. 

Researchers from Cornell University found that menu items positioned in the top-right quadrant of a menu board saw up to 25% higher sales than the same items placed elsewhere​. Why? Because in many menu layouts (especially ones with images), customers’ eyes naturally travel in a pattern that gives the upper-right area more attention. If your high-profit combo meal is sitting in that “sweet spot,” it’s going to get noticed – and ordered more often.

Key Principles of a Sales-Optimized Menu Board Layout

Prioritize Legibility and Simplicity

Every element should be easy to read at a glance. Use large fonts for item names, and never sacrifice clarity for style. 

Limit the amount of text – item name, short description if needed, and price. If something isn’t essential, consider removing it. 

A clean, uncluttered menu allows customers to process options quickly, which leads to faster orders and less chance of balking. Remember the rule: if a customer can’t read it quickly, it might as well not exist. 

Pro Tip: Stand 10 feet from the screen – can you still read everything? If not, increase the font sizes or simplify.

Use “Golden Zone” Placement

Leverage natural eye movement patterns. Studies show diners typically scan a menu board either in an “F” pattern (like reading left to right, top to bottom) or a “golden triangle” (center → top right → top left), depending on the design​. 

Identify your menu’s prime real estate (often the top or center areas) and place high-profit, high-popularity items there. 

Less critical items can go in lower or side positions. For example, put your combo meals or signature dish where eyes land first. If using multiple columns, the top of each column is a mini focal point – use those for category best-sellers. 

Highlight with Visual Emphasis

Create a visual hierarchy using size, color, and imagery. Make the important stuff stand out. This could mean one item is displayed in a larger panel with a photo (drawing attention first) while others are in a standard text list. Or use a different background color or a bold outline for the “Chef’s Special” item. 

Be strategic: if you highlight too many things, nothing stands out – pick a few key items or sections to emphasize. 

Also, ensure prices are clear but perhaps not the dominant element (you want customers focusing on the delicious item, not just the cost). 

Many menus avoid using dollar signs to soften the price perception, or they might de-emphasize prices through lighter color text so that the item name draws the eye first. The goal is transparency without letting the price distract from the item itself.

Incorporate Appealing Images

Humans are visual creatures – a great photo can sell an item more effectively than any text. Use high-quality, appetizing images for top-selling items to entice customers. 

However, don’t clutter the board with an image for every single item, which can overwhelm the senses. Instead, feature one image per category or a few “hero” items. 

For example, a pizzeria’s menu might show images for the 2-3 most popular specialty pizzas, while the standard toppings list remains text. This way, the visuals draw interest and set a quality expectation, and then the text options are easy to scan. 

Make sure any photos used are professional (or at least well-lit and high-resolution) – a bad photo can actually deter sales. When used correctly, images can literally whet the customer’s appetite; as noted, some restaurants have boosted item sales on the order of 25–30% by adding attractive photos​

Balance Content – Leave Some Breathing Room

Resist the urge to pack every pixel with information. White space (or blank space) is your friend in design; it gives the eyes a rest and helps important elements stand out.

If you have a lot of items, consider using multiple slides or rotations (digital boards can cycle through pages) rather than cramming everything on one screen. Or use a scrolling area if needed for a long list. 

The key is to maintain an airy, organized look. This als o means aligning elements neatly – prices right-aligned in a column, item names left-aligned, etc.- so it’s easy to follow.

Breaking Down a Real Template: Why It Works

To illustrate the principles above, let’s break down a real digital menu board template and examine why it’s effective.

1. Strong, Central Branding (“Tex-Mex Fiesta”): Placing the restaurant theme/title in the middle immediately signals to customers what type of cuisine or promotion they’re looking at.
2. Clear Category Headings (“Dishes of the Day,” “Client’s Choice,” “Bestsellers”): Grouping items by category (rather than listing them all in a single column) reduces decision fatigue. People can quickly jump to what interests them—specials, bestsellers, or something from the “client’s choice” list.
3. Consistent, Simple Pricing: Having the price aligned next to each item name helps customers find and process the info quickly. 
4. Appetizing Food Imagery: The menu uses large, colorful photos of the dishes around the center. These images anchor each section so customers associate category names with tasty visuals.
5. Balanced Layout and Spacing: Even though there’s a lot of information (three categories plus a bestseller section), it doesn’t feel overcrowded. The black background provides “breathing room” around headings, text, and pictures.
6. Logical Flow: Left → Center → Right → Bottom: Starting on the left with “Dishes of the Day” makes sense because many people scan menus from left to right. In the center, they see the main brand heading and a large food image—perfectly placed to grab attention. On the right, “Client’s Choice” appears as another category, mirroring the left column. Finally, at the bottom center, the “Bestsellers” section is highlighted on its own—almost like a spotlight.
7. Consistent Typography and Readable Descriptions: Each dish has a short, clear descriptor: “Melted cheese and your choice of fillings wrapped in a warm tortilla,” etc. That’s enough detail to entice without cluttering.
   The font choices are bold and easy to read from a distance. White text on a black background offers high contrast, ensuring diners aren’t squinting to make out letters.
8. Vibrant Color Palette: Bright oranges, yellows, greens, and reds immediately communicate “Mexican/Tex-Mex” flavors. The peppers and circular shapes add a playful, spicy vibe that fits the cuisine. The colors also help break up different areas of the board and highlight important info (like the category headings in yellow boxes).

Tailoring Layouts by Restaurant Type

QSR (Quick Service Restaurant)

QSR digital menus here often span multiple screens (e.g., three panels: one for combos, one for entrees, one for drinks/desserts). 

• Focus on big, bright product images for feature items (like combo meals or new promotions) since many QSR customers make decisions visually (especially at the drive-thru). 
• Keep text minimal – often just the item name and price. 
• Use panel segmentation: one panel could be dedicated to “Deals & Combos” because value messaging is key in QSR. 
• Also, incorporate order confirmation or item tracking if possible (some QSR drive-thru boards show the customer’s current order on-screen to reduce errors). 
• Consider regulatory info like calorie counts, but present them in an unobtrusive way (e.g., small font next to price) so as not to clutter. 

Café / Coffee Shop 

A café’s digital menu board can be a bit more text-centric (like a traditional chalkboard menu) but enhanced with a few well-chosen visuals (e.g., a photo of the seasonal drink or a rotating image of a pastry of the day). 

• Maintain a warm, inviting aesthetic – maybe a darker background with light text for that coffeehouse vibe. 
• Make sure the item names are clearly listed, possibly organized by section (Hot Drinks, Iced Drinks, Bakery, etc.). 
• Dayparting is important: breakfast sandwiches are on screen in the morning, then switch to salads or flatbreads at lunch, then mainly drinks and maybe happy hour specials in the late afternoon. 
• Have a “recommendation” section – like “Barista’s Pick” – to help undecided customers and push new concoctions. 
• Keep the layout simple and elegant, mirroring the atmosphere of a coffee shop. 

Food Court Vendor

In a food court, people scan menus quickly as they walk by. Your digital menu needs to grab attention from a distance and communicate your cuisine type immediately. 

• Bold imagery of representative dishes should be prominently placed. 
• Because food court customers often decide in a split second, highlight your most popular combo or meal deal in the center of the board with large text (“#1 Combo: Burger, Fries & Drink $10”) – something that screams value and signature item. 
• Use bright colors and maybe even motion (a short, looping clip of food preparation or rotating menu specials) to catch the eye among the sea of options. 
• The layout can be straightforward: perhaps one large panel showing combos or specials and a smaller panel or ticker listing other items. 
• Also, consider multilingual text or icons if your food court serves a diverse crowd or tourists, as clarity is crucial. The design should be bold and legible even from several feet away.

Related article: How LED Menu Boards Drive Sales in Entertainment and Dining Venues

Bar or Pub

Bars that serve food (and drinks) should use menu boards in a way that complements the ambiance. Likely, the screens might show a mix of the menu and live TV or other content. 

• Layout-wise, you might not list every regular menu item like a restaurant; instead, highlight categories or best-sellers (patrons can ask for full menus if needed). 
• Timeliness is key: schedule the board to show a countdown or highlight when happy hour is active, then automatically switch after it’s over. 
• For sports bars, you can integrate announcements (“Game Night – $5 Wings during 1st quarter!”) into the menu display. 
• Keep the style fun and engaging – maybe use thematic icons or graphics (beer mugs, etc.) – but ensure readability (choose a font that’s clear even if someone is glancing while socializing). 

Read also: 12 Best eye-catching signage fonts for your business

Bonus: Mistakes to Avoid in Menu Layout Design

Knowing what to do is half the battle. Avoiding common pitfalls can be just as crucial. Here are some blunders that can derail even the best intentions:

1. Overcrowding the Menu: Trying to squeeze every tiny detail onto a single screen leads to cramped text and frustrated customers. Don’t shrink your font to show every smoothie flavor under the sun—people won’t be able to read any of it. Instead, consider rotating slides or leaving less popular options off the main board.
   
   
2. Illegible Text or Fonts: Sure, that handwritten script font might look pretty, but if it’s too fancy to decipher from six feet away, it’s not helping. Similarly, low-contrast color choices (like yellow on white) can be a recipe for unreadable text. Always lean on clarity when selecting fonts and colors.
   
   
3. Excessive Animation or Gimmicks: Animation can attract attention, right up until it becomes distracting. Rapidly flickering screens or incessant transitions might irritate customers and stop them from actually reading the menu. Keep motion minimal and purposeful.
   
   
4. Poor Organization (No Logical Flow): Nothing kills a sale faster than forcing people to hunt for the item they want. Scattering drinks among entrees or mixing breakfast items with dinner specials is confusing. Keep each category coherent and keep your formatting consistent.
   
   
5. Neglecting Updates and Accuracy: A digital menu is worthless if you don’t keep it current. If you run out of a certain item, remove it from the display or mark it “sold out.” If you raise prices, make sure the menu reflects that immediately. Typos or outdated listings undermine trust and create awkward moments at the register.
   

How Look Digital Signage Simplifies Smart Menu Layouts

By now, you might be thinking, “I get the principles, but how do I put this into practice without a full design team?” That’s where Look's cloud-based digital signage software makes life much easier. It’s designed to help you create, schedule, and maintain engaging menu boards with minimal hassle.

Easy Template Selection

Look offers a library of professionally designed digital menu board templates. Each one is built with best practices in mind—font sizes, spacing, logical zones—so you’re not starting from scratch. You just pick a template that fits your vibe, plug in your items, and you’re good to go.

Drag-and-drop Layout Editor

You can move elements, add images, and edit text blocks in a simple, visual interface — no special design training is required. So, if you decide you want a bigger image for your new dessert or a bold highlight on a promotional meal, just drag it into place.

Guided Content Zones

Many of the templates come with predefined areas labeled for specific purposes, like “Brand Logo,” “Main Menu Items,” or “Promotions.” This built-in structure keeps you from accidentally creating a messy layout. Just fill in each zone, and your design stays balanced and professional.

One-Click Dayparting and Scheduling

Importantly, you can schedule different menu layouts for different times of day. Serve breakfast menus until 11 AM, then auto-switch to lunch. Once dinner hits, highlight those combo deals and happy hour specials without having to change anything manually. This feature alone can be a game changer if you cater to different meal periods or daily specials.

Read also: Digital Signage Scheduling: the Best Tools, Tips & Tricks

Automatic Alignment and Scaling

Say you have multiple screens in different orientations: horizontal in one spot, vertical in another. The software can adapt your content so it looks sharp and consistent across all of them. That means no more weird text cut-offs or images that look warped.

Instant Updates Across All Locations

Whether you have one restaurant or twenty, you can push updates to all your screens instantly. Change a price, add a new item, or remove something that’s sold out, and within seconds, every digital board reflects the update. This ensures accuracy and consistency brand-wide.

Real-Time Preview and Testing

You can preview your entire menu board before it goes live via the Look demo screen. That way, you can catch any mistakes—like too-tiny text or an image that overlaps your price—before your customers do. Once you’re happy, hit publish, and your updates roll out automatically.

📌 Try a layout template for free — upload your menu content and launch in minutes

Great Layout = Higher Orders, Smoother Flow

When your menu board is clear, enticing, and strategically arranged, it subtly nudges customers to choose what you want them to sell. That boosts revenue, enhances the customer experience, and sets your restaurant apart. After all, once customers see a slick board that practically reads their minds, you’ll see it reflected in higher sales and happier regulars.

Leaning on the right digital signage platform can bring it all together, giving you the freedom to experiment, schedule dayparts, and easily roll out promotions—even across multiple locations.

Start today with a free 14-day trial of Look DS and create a smart sales-driving menu board risk-free!