How much should I budget for a party?

A typical UK house party costs £10-£20 per guest. A catered event runs £30-£60 per head. Weddings average £100-£200 per guest. Start with your total budget, then allocate roughly: 30-40% venue, 25-30% catering, 10-15% drinks, 10% decorations, 5-10% entertainment.

What is the biggest party expense?

The venue is usually the single largest cost, typically 30-40% of the total budget. Catering (food and drink combined) is often the next largest at 35-40%. Together, venue and catering account for 65-80% of most party budgets.

How can I cut party costs?

Host at home to eliminate venue hire. Ask guests to bring a dish or bottle (potluck). Buy drinks in bulk from wholesalers. Make your own decorations. Use a Spotify playlist instead of a DJ. Avoid weekends and peak seasons for venue discounts.

Should I include a contingency in my budget?

Yes, always keep 5-10% of your budget as contingency for unexpected costs. Last-minute extras, price increases, and forgotten items always crop up. If you do not use it, you will have a nice surplus after the party.

PartyCalcs

Party Budget Calculator — Full Budget Planner

Create a complete party budget with spending categories and see exactly where your money goes.

Total Budget

Number of Guests

Venue Hire

Catering / Food

Drinks

Decorations

Entertainment

Other Costs

How We Calculate This

This calculator lets you input costs across major party spending categories and compares them against your total budget.

How it works

Total spend = sum of all category costs
Remaining budget = total budget - total spend
Cost per guest = total spend / number of guests
Each category is shown as a percentage of total spend

UK party industry benchmarks suggest: 30-40% venue, 25-30% catering, 10-15% drinks, 10% decorations, 5-10% entertainment.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.