# Cage-free egg premium The national cage-free minus conventional large white loose spread, USDA, cents per dozen _Data through Aug 19, 2026 · source last checked Aug 20, 2026 · page revised Aug 20, 2026_ > Cage-free carries a -2.8¢/doz premium over conventional right now (-7%): cage-free 39.1¢/doz vs conventional 41.9¢/doz, USDA, Aug 19, 2026. Cage-free premium stands at -2.8¢/doz, with cage-free at 39.1¢/doz versus conventional at 41.9¢/doz. The premium has fallen 52.9% on the week and 84.4% on the year. Cage-free eggs now trade below conventional. ## The numbers | Period | Current | Prior | Change | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Week over week | 39.1¢/doz | 83.0¢/doz | -52.9% | | Month over month | 39.1¢/doz | 85.2¢/doz | -54.1% | | Year over year | 39.1¢/doz | 251¢/doz | -84.4% | ## About Cage-free egg premium The cage-free premium is what a buyer pays over conventional (caged) eggs for cage-free. It is structural and widening over time as state mandates and retailer commitments move demand, but it swings: when a supply shock lifts conventional prices, the premium compresses, and it re-widens as conventional eases. This page computes the premium as the difference between the two USDA national large white loose benchmarks, never a stored number. ## About this data - Source: USDA AMS Egg Market News, Daily National Shell Egg Index - Series: National cage-free minus conventional, large white loose - Basis: Loose - Geography: National - Unit: ¢/doz - Calculation period: 5-day weighted average, both legs - Last observation: Aug 19, 2026 - Update frequency: Daily (business days) --- Cite: Cage-free carries a -2.8¢/doz premium over conventional right now (-7%), USDA national large white, as of Aug 19, 2026. The Scramble. https://the-scramble.com/cagefree/premium Canonical URL: https://the-scramble.com/cagefree/premium