In the United States, an average pound of flour costs $0.39 and a pound is 16 ounces. Flour has a long duration span and can last for 3-8 months depending on the type. It is used in making foods like bread, cakes, crackers, pasta, and so on. It also serves as a binding agent to some dishes.

Some types of flour and their average costs in retail stores include:

All-Purpose Flour: $8. 99 per 2-pound bag. Barley Flour: $8. 99 per 1-pound bag. Bread Flour: $10. 89 per 5-pound bag. Buckwheat Flour: $13. 99 per 3-pound bag. Cake Flour: $11. 50 per 2-pound bag. Chickpea Flour: $7. 99 per 1-pound bag. Corn Flour: $9. 99 per 2-pound bag. Pastry Flour: $21. 99 per 5-pound bag. Millet Flour: $8. 37 per 1. 25-pound bag (20 ounces). Oat Flour: $9. 99 per 2-pound bag. Rice Flour: $8. 99 per 2-pound bag. Self-Rising Flour: $12. 99 per 5-pound bag. Semolina Flour: $9. 89 per 2-pound bag. Vital Wheat Gluten Flour: $9. 99 per 1. 25-pound bag (20 ounces). Whole Wheat Flour: $12. 97 per 5-pound bag.

Some popular brands of flour alongside the costs include:

365 Everyday Value Unbleached All-Purpose Baking Flour – $0. 05 per ounce. Arrowhead Mills Organic Whole Wheat Flour – $0. 15 per ounce. Baker Josef’s Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour – $33. 33 per count. Bob’s Red Mill Artisan Bread Flour – $0. 14 per ounce. Cup4Cup Gluten-Free Wholesome Flour – $0. 31 per ounce. Gold Medal Unbleached All-Purpose Flour – $0. 04 per ounce. Great Value Enriched Self Rising Flour – $0. 03 per ounce. Harris Teeter Self-Rising Flour – $0. 36 per ounce. King Arthur Organic Unbleached All-Purpose Flour – $2. 07 per ounce. Polenta Valsugana Pre-Cooked Corn Flour – $0. 64 per ounce. Wheat Montana Farms & Bakery Bronze Chief 100% Whole Wheat Flour – $0. 17 per ounce. Wheat Montana Farms & Bakery Prairie Gold 100% Whole Wheat Flour – $0. 10 per ounce. Wheat Montana Farms & Bakery Natural White All-Purpose Flour – $0. 08 per ounce. White Lily Unbleached Self-Rising Flour – $0. 11 per ounce.

Comparison of Flour Costs Over The Years

Different factors could affect the price of flour and also cause it to fluctuate. Below are the retail prices of flour from 2017-2021.

2017 – $0. 46 per pound2018 – $0. 44 per pound2019 – $0. 43 per pound2020 – $0. 45 per pound2021 – $0. 39 per pound

From the above it can be seen that there was a decrease in the cost of flour in 2018 and 2019, then an increase in 2020, and a further decrease in 2021 lower than the cost in 2017. It is however predicted for flour prices to increase in 2022.

Factors That Affect The Cost Of Flour

The factors of supply of demand can affect the cost of flour. Some known factors include:

Climate factorsGlobal population Income Growth Inflation Oil prices Substitutes prices 

Flour Types and Their Uses

All-Purpose Flour: It can be used for anything regarding baking and cooking. Bread Flour: It can be used in making bread such as artisan bread, yeast bread, bagels and cookies. Cake Flour: It can be used for baking cakes and pastries. Rice Flour: It can be used for making rice noodles, rice cakes, rice pancakes and crepes, and so on. Self-Rising Flour: It can be used in the production of biscuits. Vital Wheat Gluten Flour: It can be used to boost up low-protein flours, such as rye, sprouted flours, or whole wheat. Whole Wheat Flour: It can be used for baking cookies, bread and cakes.

How Much Does A Bag Of Flour Cost?

Flour is cheaper when it’s bought in bulk.  On average, A 50 lb. (pound) bag of all-purpose flour costs $31.99 per bag. If the quantity purchased is up to 10, the cost would be $27.23 per bag. While a quantity of 5-9 would cost $29.18 per bag.

A 25 lb. (pound) bag of all-purpose flour average cost is $20.99 per bag. Buying at a quantity of 2 brings the cost down to $18.48 per bag. While buying a quantity of 10-97 further brings down the cost to $15.95 per bag.

Is Flour An Expensive Commodity?

Flour is a food commodity used in most households today. The cost of flour is averagely affordable to all.

Where Can Flour Be Purchased?

Flour is an essential food commodity used in cooking and baking pastries. The cost of flour tends to fluctuate slightly over the years. It remains somewhat affordable to purchase as there are different brands and types to choose from to suit your needs.