Your menu board is the sign your customers read for the longest. They stand in the queue, look up, and decide what to order. If the board is dim, cluttered or out of date, they take longer and often play it safe. A bright, well laid-out LED menu board makes ordering faster and puts your best items where people look first.
DSS designs, makes and installs LED menu boards for cafés, takeaways, bakeries, bars, food trucks and franchise stores across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Everything starts in our workshop at Unit 4, 30 New Street, Frankston.
Two ways to light up your menu
There are two main types of LED menu board. Many venues use a mix of both.
Illuminated lightbox menu boards
A lightbox menu board is a slim cabinet with LED lighting behind a printed face. The light spreads evenly across the panel, so photos and prices are easy to read from the back of the queue. When your menu changes, you replace the printed insert rather than the whole board.
Lightbox menus suit venues whose core menu changes a few times a year: coffee and breakfast lists, burger and pizza menus, bakery counters and bottle shops. See our lightbox signs page for single and double-sided cabinets.
Digital LED and screen menu boards
Digital menu boards use screens or LED displays, so you can change prices, swap breakfast for lunch, or push a special without printing anything. They suit busy venues that run dayparts, rotating specials or several stores that need to stay in step. Read more on our LED and digital signage page.
Which one is right for you?
| If you… | Consider |
|---|---|
| Change the menu a few times a year | Lightbox menu board |
| Change prices or specials weekly or daily | Digital menu board |
| Want one feature board plus fixed prices | Digital feature screen beside lightbox panels |
| Have a small counter or low ceiling | Slim lightbox or a single landscape screen |
| Want a lit brand moment, not just a menu | Add LED neon or a lit logo |
Not sure? Send us a photo of your counter and we will suggest a layout.
What makes a menu board easy to read
A menu board has a few seconds to do its job. These are the things we look at on every project:
- Viewing distance. Measure from where the queue starts to the board. Text size and number of items are set from that distance, not from the artwork on your laptop.
- Hierarchy. Your best sellers and highest-margin items go top left and centre, where eyes land first. Group categories clearly.
- Fewer words. Long descriptions belong on a printed menu or online. On the wall, keep names short and prices clear.
- Brightness and colour. The board needs to cut through daylight from the shopfront without glaring at night. We match the LED output to the space.
- Photos. One or two strong food photos sell more than ten small ones.
- Consistency. Fonts, colours and logo should match your shopfront and window signage so the whole venue feels like one brand.
Our LED menu board process
- Send a photo and measurements. Show us the wall or bulkhead, the counter and where power is available.
- Layout and quote. We recommend lightbox, digital or a mix, and give you a layout and quote.
- Artwork and proof. We set up your menu artwork, or work from your designer’s files, and send a proof.
- Make. Cabinets, faces and prints are produced in our Frankston workshop.
- Install. Our installation team fits the board and coordinates the electrical connection where needed.
- Updates. When your menu changes, we print new lightbox inserts, or set you up to update a digital board yourself.
Built for real hospitality conditions
Menu boards live above coffee machines, fryers and grills. Steam, grease and heat all take a toll. We think about mounting height, access for cleaning, cable runs and how easily an insert can be swapped by your staff. For outdoor or drive-through menus, weather sealing and brightness become even more important, so tell us early if the board will face the street.
Pair your menu board with the rest of your signage
A menu board works best as part of a full fit-out. Many venues combine:
- An illuminated shopfront sign so people can find you at night
- A lightbox or 3D letters over the entrance (compare options in our lightbox vs LED vs neon guide)
- An LED neon feature wall for photos and atmosphere
- Window graphics for opening hours and specials
See finished projects on our work page.
Areas we serve
We make LED menu boards for venues across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula, including Frankston, Seaford, Carrum Downs, Langwarrin, Mornington, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, Hastings, Rosebud, Cranbourne, Dandenong and the Melbourne CBD and suburbs. Local customers are welcome to visit the workshop to see materials and light samples.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an LED menu board cost?
It depends on size, the number of panels, lightbox or digital, and installation access. Send us a photo and measurements and we will give you a written quote.
Can I change the menu on a lightbox board?
Yes. Lightbox menu boards use a printed face or insert. When prices or items change, we print a new insert and you swap it in, so you keep the cabinet.
Should I choose a lightbox or a digital menu board?
If your menu changes a few times a year, a lightbox is usually simpler. If you change specials often or run breakfast, lunch and dinner menus, a digital board can save reprinting. Many venues use both.
Do you install menu boards?
Yes. We install across Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula and coordinate the electrical side where the board needs power.
Can you match my existing branding?
Yes. Send your logo and brand colours, or your designer’s files, and we will set the menu artwork to match your shopfront and packaging.
Do I need council approval for a menu board?
Indoor menu boards usually do not. Outdoor, illuminated or street-facing boards can be covered by council or landlord rules, so check with them early. We can help you prepare drawings.
Get a quote for LED menu boards in Melbourne
Ready to make ordering easier? Call DSS on 1300 309 735, email dss@dss.net.au, or send us a photo of your counter. We are at Unit 4, 30 New Street, Frankston VIC 3199.