The decision between a quarter cow and a half cow comes down to three things: how many people you feed, how much freezer space you have, and how often beef is on the table. We are a fourth-generation family ranch in Springtown, Texas, and this is how we walk first-time buyers through it.
The short answer: A quarter cow is exactly 100 lbs of beef for $1,399, takes about 3.5 cubic feet of freezer space, and lasts a family of 2 about a year or a family of 4 about 6 to 7 months. A half cow is 230+ lbs for $2,999, takes about 7 cubic feet, and lasts a family of 4 about 12 to 14 months. Both ship frozen, with shipping included, to any address in the lower 48.
Quarter Cow vs Half Cow at a Glance
| Quarter Cow | Half Cow | |
|---|---|---|
| Beef you receive | Exactly 100 lbs, finished weight | 230+ lbs, finished weight |
| Price (shipping included) | $1,399 | $2,999 |
| Price per lb | $13.99/lb | About $13.00/lb |
| Freezer space needed | About 3.5 cubic feet | About 7 cubic feet |
| How long it lasts, family of 2 | About 12 months | About 2 years |
| How long it lasts, family of 4 | About 6 to 7 months | About 12 to 14 months |
| Best for | 1 to 2 people, or a family of 4 trying bulk beef for the first time | Families of 4 or more, heavy beef eaters, or two households splitting |
| Order | Quarter Beef On Demand | Half Beef On Demand |
Durations assume beef 3 to 4 times a week, at roughly 1 lb per meal for a family of 4 and about half a pound per meal for 2. If you cook beef more often than that, it goes faster. If you cook it less, it lasts longer.
Household Size Guide
How Long Does a Quarter Cow Last for 2 People?
About 12 months. A couple eating beef 3 to 4 times a week uses roughly half a pound per meal. At that pace, 100 lbs carries you about a year, which lines up nicely with how long vacuum-sealed beef holds its quality in the freezer. For 1 to 2 people, the quarter is the right starting point.
How Long Will Half a Cow Last a Family of 2?
About 2 years. That is longer than we like beef to sit in a freezer. It stays safe frozen, but quality is best inside the first 12 months or so. That is why we usually steer couples toward a quarter. The exception is if you plan to split the half with another household or you cook beef nearly every day.
How Long Will a Quarter Cow Last a Family of 4?
About 6 to 7 months. A family of 4 eating beef 3 to 4 times a week goes through roughly 3 to 4 lbs a week. A quarter is a good first order for a family this size because it lets you learn how fast your household actually eats beef before you commit to a bigger freezer and a bigger order.
How Long Will Half a Cow Last a Family of 4?
About 12 to 14 months. This is the sweet spot for the half cow. One order covers about a year at our lowest per-pound price. If you already know your family eats beef several times a week, the half is the better buy.
Large Households (5 or More People)
5 to 6 people, or heavy beef eaters: Go with the half. At that size, a half cow lasts about 8 to 10 months. A quarter would have you reordering every few months.
Freezer Space
How Much Space Do You Actually Need
Freezer space is the most common thing that decides this for people. Our rule of thumb is about 1 cubic foot for every 30 to 35 lbs of vacuum-sealed beef.
- Quarter cow (100 lbs): about 3.5 cubic feet. A 5 cubic foot chest freezer holds it with room to spare.
- Half cow (230+ lbs): about 7 cubic feet. Plan on a 7 cubic foot or larger chest freezer.
Checking Your Freezer Before You Order
Most families keep bulk beef in a chest freezer or a dedicated upright rather than the freezer over the fridge. Measure the clear space you have, not the total size on the label. Clear it out before your order ships. Vacuum-sealed packages stack flat, so group them by type (steaks, ground beef, roasts and ribs) and you will always know what you have.
The Per-Pound Math
Comparing the Two Options Side by Side
A quarter cow at $1,399 for exactly 100 lbs works out to $13.99 per pound. A half cow at $2,999 for 230+ lbs works out to about $13.00 per pound, the best per-pound price we offer. Shipping is included in both prices, so there is no freight charge added at checkout.
That per-pound price covers everything in the box. You pay the same rate per pound for filet mignon as you do for ground beef.
How That Compares to Buying a Traditional Quarter or Half
If you have shopped around, you have probably seen bulk beef priced by "hanging weight." That is the weight of the carcass before it is cut and trimmed. What you actually take home is typically only 60 to 65 percent of the hanging weight, so the price per pound on paper is not the price per pound in your freezer. Divide a hanging-weight price by 0.6 to 0.65 to get closer to what you are really paying per pound of beef. Then add the processing fee, which is usually charged separately.
Our prices are for finished weight. The 100 lbs in a quarter is 100 lbs of packaged beef. There is no hanging-weight math to do.
What Cuts You Get
Every quarter and half comes with an exact cut list. You know what is in the box before you order. All beef is from our own pasture-raised, grain-finished cattle and is processed in our own USDA-inspected facility in Springtown.
What Comes in a Quarter Cow (100 lbs)
- Boneless Ribeye (16 oz): 5
- NY Strip (12 oz): 7
- Filet Mignon (6 oz): 5
- Sirloin (16 oz): 6
- Flank: 2
- Skirt (1 lb): 2
- Short Ribs: 1 pack
- Tablitas (1 lb): 3
- Ground Beef (1 lb): 65
- Fresh Beef Tallow (16 oz): 2
What Comes in a Half Cow (230+ lbs)
- Boneless Ribeye (16 oz): 10
- NY Strip (12 oz): 13
- Filet Mignon (6 oz): 10
- Sirloin (16 oz): 12
- Flank: 4
- Skirt (1 lb): 4
- Short Ribs (3 lb packs): 3
- Tablitas (1 lb): 5
- Chuck Roast (2.5 lb): 8
- Ground Beef (1 lb): 140
- Fresh Beef Tallow (16 oz): 5
What the Difference Means in Your Kitchen
The quarter gives you 23 steaks (ribeyes, strips, filets and sirloins) plus 65 lbs of ground beef. That covers steak night, tacos, burgers and weeknight dinners. The half roughly doubles the steaks to 45, more than doubles the ground beef to 140 lbs, and adds eight 2.5 lb chuck roasts that the quarter does not include. If pot roast and slow-cooker meals are a regular thing at your house, that alone can make the half worth it.
Ground beef is the biggest part of both boxes, and it is the part most families go through fastest. Every pound is packed in 1 lb packages, so you thaw only what you need.
For a full walk-through of each option, see Buying a Quarter Cow: What You Get, What It Costs, How It Works and How Do You Buy a Half Cow?
How Your Quarter or Half Ships
You do not have to live near the ranch. We ship quarters and halves frozen to any address in the contiguous United States (the lower 48). If you are close to Springtown, Texas, local pickup is available too.
- Carrier: FedEx Home Delivery.
- Packing: Insulated boxes packed with dry ice, so the beef travels frozen.
- When it ships: Most orders ship within 3 to 4 business days of ordering. Orders are processed Monday through Friday.
- Transit time: 2 to 4 days. From the day you order to the day it hits your doorstep is typically about 1 to 1.5 weeks.
- Tracking: We email you a tracking number when your order ships, so you can plan to be home and have the freezer ready.
- 100% delivery guarantee: If there is any issue with your delivery, we replace the shipment. Just contact us within 48 hours of delivery.
Shipping is already included in the $1,399 and $2,999 prices. For a closer look at how we cut, seal and pack every order, read From Our Ranch to Your Freezer: How We Pack and Ship Every Beef Box.
Quality Window for Frozen Beef
How Long Does It Stay Good
Beef that stays frozen does not spoil the way fresh beef does. What changes over time is quality: texture and flavor slowly fade. Vacuum-sealed beef kept at 0°F holds its quality for 12 months or more.
Getting the Most Out of Your Freezer
Every package we ship is vacuum sealed, which removes the air that causes freezer burn. Keep your freezer at 0°F or colder. This is why the household guide above matters: a quarter for a couple, or a half for a family of 4, gets eaten inside that 12-month window. A half for two people stretches to about 2 years.
How On-Demand Ordering Works
Traditional bulk beef usually means a deposit, a cut sheet, a separate processing fee, and a wait of weeks or months, often with local pickup only. Our Beef On Demand program has no deposit, no cut sheet, no hanging-weight math and no waiting list. Every pound listed is a pound in your freezer. More details are on the Bulk Beef On Demand page.
Is Buying Bulk Beef Worth It?
For households that cook at home regularly and have the freezer space, yes. You lock in one per-pound price for steaks and ground beef alike, and you know exactly where your beef came from: our family's ranch in Parker County. The honest caveat: if you rarely cook beef at home, or you cannot set aside at least 3.5 cubic feet of freezer space, bulk may not be the right fit yet. Browse both options in our Bulk Beef collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy a quarter cow or a half cow?
Buy a quarter if you are 1 to 2 people, have around 5 cubic feet of freezer space, or are trying bulk beef for the first time. Buy a half if you are feeding 4 or more, eat beef several times a week, have 7+ cubic feet of freezer space, or want the lowest per-pound price.
How long does a half cow last a family of 4?
About 12 to 14 months, eating beef 3 to 4 times a week at roughly 1 lb per meal. That keeps the whole order inside the 12-month-plus quality window for vacuum-sealed beef.
How long does a quarter cow last?
For a family of 2 eating beef 3 to 4 times a week, about 12 months. For a family of 4, about 6 to 7 months.
Do you ship a half cow to my state?
If you are in the contiguous United States (the lower 48), yes. Both the quarter and the half ship frozen via FedEx Home Delivery in insulated boxes with dry ice. Most orders ship within 3 to 4 business days and arrive 2 to 4 days later. Shipping is included in the price.
Can I split a half cow with a friend?
Yes. One person places the order and it ships to one address, then you divide the cuts however you like. Because the half has an exact cut list, you can plan the split before it arrives.
Can I change the cuts in a quarter or half?
The quarter and half are set packages with exact cut counts, so there is no cut sheet to fill out. If you have a question about a specific cut, call or email us before you order.
How do I know if my freezer is big enough?
Measure your clear space. A quarter needs about 3.5 cubic feet (a 5 cubic foot chest freezer holds it with room to spare). A half needs about 7 cubic feet, so plan on a 7 cubic foot or larger chest freezer.
Is the per-pound price the same for both options?
No. The quarter is $13.99 per pound ($1,399 for exactly 100 lbs). The half is about $13.00 per pound ($2,999 for 230+ lbs), our best per-pound price. Shipping is included in both.
How long does frozen beef stay good?
Vacuum-sealed beef kept at 0°F holds its quality for 12 months or more. Cook any package that has lost its seal first.
Still not sure which size fits your household? Call us at (817) 404-7405 or email orders@parkercountybeefcompany.com before you order. We would rather you get the right size than end up with more beef than your freezer can hold.
Ready? Quarter Beef On Demand: 100 lbs, $1,399, shipping included · Half Beef On Demand: 230+ lbs, $2,999, shipping included