How much should I spend on party decorations?

Decorations typically account for 5-15% of your total party budget. For a £1,000 party, that is £50-£150. A milestone birthday or wedding might allocate more - up to 20%. Focus spending on high-impact items like entrance displays, table centrepieces, and lighting.

What are the cheapest party decorations?

Homemade bunting, printed banners, and standard latex balloons are very affordable. Buy in bulk online for the best prices. Tissue paper pom-poms, paper chains, and repurposed jam jars with tea lights create great effects cheaply.

What decorations have the biggest visual impact?

Balloon arches or garlands, fairy light canopies, and large flower arrangements make the biggest impact. Focus your budget on 2-3 key features rather than spreading it thin. The entrance and the main table area are where guests look first.

Should I hire or buy decorations?

Buy consumables (balloons, confetti, candles). Hire large items (fairy light canopies, giant letters, arches). Buying in bulk for one-time events is often cheaper than hiring. For weddings, hiring can save money on high-value items you will not use again.

PartyCalcs

Decoration Budget Calculator — Plan Your Decor Spend

Plan your decoration spending across categories and stay within budget.

Decoration Budget

Balloons

Bunting / Streamers

Flowers

Table Decorations

Lighting (fairy lights, etc.)

Banners / Signs

Other Decorations

How We Calculate This

This calculator totals your decoration spending across all categories and tracks it against your budget.

How it works

Total spend = sum of all decoration categories
Remaining = decoration budget - total spend
The biggest spending category is highlighted

Industry standard is to spend 5-15% of your total party budget on decorations.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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