◆ Last updated: ◆ By the LeDiamont team
About $2 to $15 per gram
In 2026, real sturgeon caviar sold online typically costs about $2 to $15 per gram, roughly $60 to $450 for a 30 g tin. Baeri sits at the low end, Ossetra and Sevruga in the middle, Beluga at the top. To compare offers, divide each tin’s price by its net weight in grams, use one currency and check the species. Larger tins usually cost somewhat less per gram.
In short: at LeDiamont, Iranian caviar costs CHF 1,800 to 3,600 per kilo, or CHF 1.80 to 3.60 per gram in a 1 kg tin. Small tins cost a little more per gram. Prices incl. VAT as of 27 October 2026, chilled delivery in Switzerland.
| Caviar | 1 kg tin | Price per gram (1 kg) | 30 g tin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baeri | CHF 1,800 | CHF 1.80 | CHF 57 (1.90 CHF/g) |
| Sevruga | CHF 2,000 | CHF 2.00 | CHF 64 (2.13 CHF/g) |
| Ossetra | CHF 2,600 | CHF 2.60 | CHF 83 (2.77 CHF/g) |
| Beluga AA® | CHF 3,600 | CHF 3.60 | CHF 115 (3.83 CHF/g) |
Key takeaways
- ◆Compare per gram, not per tin. Price per gram = tin price ÷ net weight in grams. It is the only fair way to compare a 30 g tin with a 125 g tin.
- ◆Species sets the price. A sturgeon that needs 7 to 10 years to mature (Baeri) yields cheaper caviar than one that needs 15 to 20+ years (Beluga).
- ◆Bigger tins save a little, not a lot. The per-gram saving is usually modest, and only worth it if you can finish the tin within 2 to 3 days of opening.
- ◆Budget per person. Plan about 30 g per person for a tasting, about 50 g for a generous starter and about 125 g when caviar is the main event, then multiply by the number of guests.
- ◆Very cheap “caviar” is not caviar. The word is reserved for sturgeon eggs. Check the species name and the CITES code on the tin.
Contents
How much does caviar cost per gram?
Most real sturgeon caviar sold online in 2026 falls between $2 and $15 per gram. The table shows typical retail ranges by variety. These are market reference points compiled from published retailer price pages (consulted October 2026), not LeDiamont offers.
| Variety | Species | Per gram | About per 30 g tin | About per kilo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baeri (Siberian sturgeon) | Acipenser baerii | $2–5 | $60–150 | $2,000–5,000 |
| Sevruga | Acipenser stellatus | $2.50–5 | $75–150 | $2,500–5,000 |
| Ossetra | Acipenser gueldenstaedtii | $3–8 | $90–240 | $3,000–8,000 |
| Kaluga and hybrid Beluga types | Huso dauricus and crosses | $3–10 | $90–300 | $3,000–10,000 |
| Beluga | Huso huso | $5–15 and above | $150–450 and above | $5,000–15,000 and above |
| Salmon, trout or lumpfish roe (not caviar) | Other fish | usually under $1.50 | under $45 | under $1,500 |
Three notes on reading it:
- ◆Within one row, grade and brand drive the gap. A top-grade Ossetra can cost more than an entry-level Beluga-type product.
- ◆Euro prices land in the same bands. One large European house lists 30 g tins from about €70 to €400, roughly €2.30 to €13 per gram (Petrossian).
- ◆Some guides quote far higher Beluga prices, such as $20 to $50 per gram. Those describe rare grades, not the usual retail range.
How do you convert caviar prices between gram, ounce, tin and kilo?
Shops quote in different units. US shops often quote per ounce, European shops per kilo, and the tin you actually buy is 30 g, 50 g or 125 g. One avoirdupois ounce is 28.35 g.
× 28.35 for the price per ounce · × 1,000 for the price per kilo
| Per gram | Per ounce | 30 g tin | 50 g tin | 125 g tin | Per kilo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2 | $57 | $60 | $100 | $250 | $2,000 |
| $3 | $85 | $90 | $150 | $375 | $3,000 |
| $5 | $142 | $150 | $250 | $625 | $5,000 |
| $10 | $284 | $300 | $500 | $1,250 | $10,000 |
| $15 | $425 | $450 | $750 | $1,875 | $15,000 |
Worked example: a 125 g tin priced at $400 costs $3.20 per gram, or about $91 per ounce. Per kilo is only a comparison unit: it does not mean a one-kilogram tin is sold at that rate.
Does a bigger tin cost less per gram?
Usually yes, but the discount is modest. Each tin carries fixed costs for hand grading, packing, cold-chain shipping and the tin itself, and a bigger tin spreads those over more grams. Retailer price pages commonly show roughly 5% to 25% off per gram between the smallest and the largest sizes. Calculate it for the offers you are actually considering: there is no fixed discount that applies to every seller or size.
There is a limit to the logic. Once opened, a tin is best within 48 hours and should not be kept beyond 2 to 3 days, even refrigerated. A large tin that is half wasted costs more per gram eaten than two smaller tins you finish.
What are our current caviar prices?
These are the price ranges shown on our product pages on 16 October 2026, in Swiss francs including tax. Prices change; always check the product page for the current price of the weight you select, the currency (USD, EUR, CHF and CA$ are available) and the availability notice. A displayed price alone does not confirm that an order can be placed.
| Caviar | Species (as stated on the product page) | Price range shown | Per gram (reference tin) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iranian Baeri Caviar | Acipenser baerii | CHF 57 – 1,800 | about CHF 1.90 |
| Iranian Sevruga Caviar | Sevruga sturgeon | CHF 64 – 105 | about CHF 2.13 |
| Iranian Sevruga Caviar (125 g to 1 kg) | Sevruga sturgeon | CHF 260 – 2,000 | CHF 2.08 (125 g) |
| Iranian Ossetra Caviar | Ossetra sturgeon, approx. 3.2 mm pearls | CHF 83 – 2,600 | about CHF 2.77 |
| Iranian Beluga AA® Caviar | Huso huso, grey pearls (size varies by batch) | CHF 115 – 3,600 | about CHF 3.83 |
Sevruga is offered in 30 g, 50 g, 125 g, 200 g, 250 g, 500 g and 1 kg tins. See the full caviar catalogue for all formats.
Why does caviar cost what it costs?
The short version: time, hands and paperwork. We cover the full story in Why Is Caviar So Expensive? The drivers that show up directly in the price are these:
Years of growing before the first harvest
Roe is only produced once the sturgeon is sexually mature. The longer the wait, the higher the price per gram.
| Species | Approximate years to maturity |
|---|---|
| Baeri | 7–10 |
| Sevruga | 8–12 |
| Ossetra | 10–15 |
| Beluga | 15–20+ |
Grade
Roe is sorted by hand for grain size, colour, firmness and flavour. Top grades are the most regular, intact grains of a harvest and cost more. Lower grades from the same fish are still real caviar with less uniform grains.
Light salting
Malossol means “little salt”. It protects the flavour but shortens shelf life, which raises handling costs.
Documentation
All sturgeon species have been listed under CITES since 1 April 1998, and legal caviar must carry a label code showing the species and source. That compliance has a cost, and the code is your best protection against fake or illegal tins.
Cold chain
Fresh caviar must stay refrigerated from farm to fridge, at about −3 to +3 °C. Insulated packs and fast shipping weigh more on small orders.
Channel
A restaurant portion usually costs much more per gram than the same caviar bought by the tin, because service, presentation and wastage are included.
What should you budget per person?
Work from the amount per person, then multiply by the number of guests. Plan about 30 g per person for a tasting, about 50 g for a generous caviar-centred starter and about 125 g when caviar is the main event (see our portion guide).
| Example portion / tin size | Baeri | Ossetra | Beluga AA® |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tasting · 30 g | CHF 57 | CHF 83 | CHF 115 |
| Generous starter · 50 g | CHF 95 | CHF 137 | CHF 189 |
| Main event · 125 g | CHF 234 | CHF 338 | CHF 468 |
These are the displayed prices for the actual 30 g, 50 g and 125 g tins, rather than a linear estimate from a 30 g tin. They are a dated reference, not a quote or confirmation of availability. Check the selected format and price before ordering.
A 50 g tin covers about 10 to 16 cocktail blini at 3 to 5 g each. For a first purchase, a 30 g tin of Baeri or Ossetra gives you the real experience at the lowest total spend.
How can you tell if a cheap caviar price is real?
Start with the name. Under the international Codex standard for sturgeon caviar, the word “caviar” on its own is reserved for the salted eggs of sturgeon (the Acipenseridae family). Hybrids must be named as hybrids with the parent species, and eggs taken from ovulated fish must say so. France’s consumer authority, the DGCCRF, adds that labels such as “red caviar” for salmon eggs are a misuse of the word.
Use this checklist before you buy:
- ✓Is the species named? “Black caviar” alone is not enough. Look for the Latin or common species name.
- ✓Is there a CITES code on the tin? It should show species, source, country of origin and year.
- ✓Is the origin the farm’s location, or only the packing location? The DGCCRF has flagged labels that mention the packing place instead of the rearing place.
- ✓Is the price plausible? One Spanish retailer puts the practical floor for real sturgeon caviar at about €500 to €600 per kilo (Bacalalo); anything far below that is very likely another fish’s roe.
- ✓Is it shipped cold? Caviar that travels without an insulated, refrigerated pack is a red flag.
Salmon, trout and lumpfish roe are good foods, but they are not caviar and are priced accordingly.
When is the best time to buy?
Demand rises toward the end-of-year holidays, and popular tin sizes can run short in November and December. If you are buying for a celebration or a gift, order earlier in the season and confirm availability and delivery for your country before you commit. Our gift guide helps you choose a variety and size.
How do you compare two caviar offers?
- 1Write down each tin’s net weight in grams (not the gross weight of tin and packaging).
- 2Convert both to the same currency.
- 3Divide price by weight to get the price per gram.
- 4Check species, grade and whether it is a hybrid. Compare Ossetra with Ossetra, not with a Beluga-type product. Our guides to Ossetra and Beluga and Kaluga and Beluga explain the differences.
- 5Add the confirmed delivery cost and check the use-by date on the tin.
Read also: our complete guide to Iranian caviar, its history, its varieties and how to buy it in Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
How much does caviar cost per gram?
Real sturgeon caviar usually costs between $2 and $15 per gram online in 2026. Baeri is at the low end and Beluga at the high end.
How much does a 30 g tin of caviar cost?
As a market reference, plan on about $60 to $150 for Baeri, Sevruga or Ossetra and $150 to $450 or more for Beluga. On our product pages on 16 October 2026, 30 g tins started from CHF 57 (Baeri).
How much does caviar cost per ounce?
Multiply the price per gram by 28.35. At $3 per gram, an ounce costs about $85.
How much does a kilo of caviar cost?
Roughly $2,000 to $15,000, depending on species and grade. A price per kilo is a comparison unit, since most people buy 30 g to 125 g tins.
What is the cheapest real caviar?
Baeri (Siberian sturgeon) is usually the most affordable true sturgeon caviar. Salmon, trout and lumpfish roe cost less but are different products.
Why is Beluga caviar so much more expensive?
The Beluga sturgeon needs 15 to 20+ years to mature, so each tin represents far more years of rearing than a Baeri tin.
Is a larger tin always better value?
Not always. The per-gram saving is usually modest, and an opened tin should be finished within 2 to 3 days.
How can I tell if the price is too low to be real?
Check for a named sturgeon species, a CITES code on the tin and an origin that names the farm country, not just the packing location. A price far below about €500 to €600 per kilo is a warning sign.
Choose your tin
Compare current formats and prices on the product pages, using the same weight and currency:
Sources
- CITES: Universal labelling system for the identification of sturgeon specimens (caviar), CoP11 Doc. 53
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: Federal Register notice, 6 December 1999: sturgeon and paddlefish in CITES Appendix II, effective 1 April 1998
- Codex Alimentarius (FAO/WHO): List of standards, including CXS 291-2010 Standard for Sturgeon Caviar
- DGCCRF: Caviar : lisez les étiquettes (labelling, species and misleading names)
- NIST: Guide to the SI, Appendix B.8: conversion factors (ounce to gram)
- Petrossian: Caviar price (consulted October 2026)
- Petrusco: How much is caviar? Prices by type and ounce (consulted October 2026)
- Bester Caviar: How much does caviar cost? (consulted October 2026)
- The Caviar House: How much is caviar? (consulted October 2026)
- Bacalalo: Caviar price guide 2026 (consulted October 2026)
- LeDiamont: Product pages, prices as displayed on 16 October 2026
Market ranges are reference points, not offers. Current prices, sizes and availability are on each product page.