How much should I spend on party favours?

For a standard party, £1-£3 per guest is typical. Filled kids party bags usually run £3-£8 per child (around £2-£3 if you bulk-buy fillers, more for elaborate bags). Wedding favours average £1-£5 per guest. Premium or personalised favours can cost £5-£15 each. Keep favours proportional to your overall budget - usually 2-5% of total spend.

Do I need party favours for every event?

Party favours are expected at weddings, kids parties, and baby showers. They are optional for adult birthdays, dinner parties, and casual events. If budget is tight, a heartfelt thank-you card or a small edible treat is perfectly sufficient.

What are the best budget party favour ideas?

Homemade baked goods, small plants or seeds, personalised bookmarks, sweets in organza bags, hot chocolate kits, or small candles. Buying in bulk from wholesalers can halve costs. Edible favours are popular because nothing goes to waste.

How many spares should I make?

Make 10-15% extra favours. This covers last-minute guests, plus-ones, and any that get damaged or forgotten. For kids parties, add a few extra as children sometimes lose theirs or siblings may need one.

Gift Budget Calculator — Party Favour Costs

Plan spending on party favours, gift bags, and guest gifts.

Number of Guests

Total number of people attending

Cost per Favour

Price of each favour or gift (UK favours are typically £1-£5)

Gift Bag / Box Cost Each

Cost of the bag or box each favour goes in (leave at 0 if none)

Wrapping / Ribbon per Item

Cost of wrapping, ribbon or organza per favour (leave at 0 if none)

Spare Percentage

Extra favours for plus-ones, breakages and last-minute guests (10-15% is typical)

Gift Budget (optional)

Your total budget for favours — leave at 0 to skip the budget check

How We Calculate This

This calculator works out the total cost of party favours including spares, bags, and wrapping.

Formula

Total favours = guests × (1 + spare %), rounded up
Favour cost = total favours × cost per favour
Bag total = total favours × bag cost each
Wrapping total = total favours × wrapping/ribbon each
Grand total = favours + bags + wrapping + any personalisation, tissue/filler and gift-tag costs from Advanced Options
Cost per guest = grand total ÷ guests (this spreads the spares across the actual guest count)

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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