Digital menu boards have moved from a novelty to a necessity in the restaurant industry. Restaurants that switch report 8 to 15 percent higher average check sizes, faster order times, and dramatically lower printing costs. But a successful deployment is about more than buying a screen — it is about sizing, placement, content, and management done right. This guide walks you through every step.
Step 1: Choose the Right Screen Size and Orientation
Screen size depends on your menu length and viewing distance. As a rule of thumb, the viewing distance in feet equals the screen size in inches divided by 4. A 43-inch display is readable from about 10 feet; a 55-inch from about 14 feet.
- Counter-service restaurants: One 32 to 43 inch portrait display per register position.
- Quick-service drive-through: Two displays per lane — one menu board at the speaker, one confirmation board at the pickup window.
- Casual dining: One 55 inch landscape display per dining section, placed where guests can browse while seated.
The VISLAT digital signage collection includes menu-board-ready models in 32, 43, 49, and 55 inch sizes with portrait and landscape orientation support.
Step 2: Placement That Drives Sales
Placement is where most restaurants lose money. The menu should be visible the moment a guest enters and decides what to order. Position displays at natural decision points:
- Eye level (55 to 70 inches from the floor to screen center)
- Parallel to the ordering queue, not facing the kitchen
- At the drive-through speaker AND at the pickup window
- Near high-margin item stations (dessert bar, drinks counter)
Step 3: Design Content That Sells
Your menu content is a salesperson that never sleeps. Follow these design rules used by top restaurant chains:
- Show real food photography — photos of actual dishes increase order rates for featured items by up to 30 percent
- Limit each screen to 5 to 7 items — too many choices causes decision paralysis
- Place high-margin items in the top-right zone, where eyes land first
- Use time-based scheduling: breakfast 6-11am, lunch 11am-3pm, dinner 3pm-close
- Highlight daily specials with a bright accent color
Step 4: Set Up Cloud CMS for Remote Management
A digital menu board without remote management is just an expensive picture frame. You need cloud CMS software that lets you update prices and content from your phone or laptop — not a USB stick.
VISLAT displays run Android OS with built-in cloud CMS support. Update prices in seconds during a supply cost change, push new specials to every location simultaneously, and schedule content by time of day. Multi-location chains can manage all screens from one dashboard.
Step 5: Calculate Your ROI
Here is a realistic return on investment scenario for a single-location restaurant:
- Two 43 inch displays with installation: approximately USD 1,400 to 2,000 total
- Average check increase of 10 percent on a USD 400,000 annual revenue base: USD 40,000 in added revenue
- Printing cost savings (menus, specials, price updates): USD 500 to 2,000 per year
- Payback period: 2 to 4 weeks
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Buying consumer TVs instead of commercial displays — they are not rated for 24/7 operation and fail within months
- Using displays without CMS — you will be physically updating USB sticks every week
- Placing screens facing direct sunlight — brightness below 500 nits washes out
- Overloading one screen with the entire menu — 5 to 7 items per screen is the proven sweet spot
Browse the VISLAT digital menu board displays — Android OS, cloud CMS, 24/7 commercial-grade operation, 3-year warranty, factory-direct pricing.