How much should I budget for a party?

As an indicative UK guide (Bark / Bridebook 2025-26), a typical house party costs £10-£20 per guest, a catered event runs £30-£60 per head, and weddings work out around £100-£200 per guest for the venue and catering core (the all-in UK wedding average is higher, roughly £278 per guest once everything is added). Start with your total budget, then allocate roughly: 30-40% venue, 25-30% catering, 10-15% drinks, 10% decorations, 5-10% entertainment. Treat these as starting points, not fixed rules.

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.

Party Budget Calculator — Full Budget Planner

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

Total Budget

The total you have available to spend

Number of Guests

Total number of people attending

Venue Hire

Room or venue hire fee (£0 if at home)

Catering / Food

Total food and catering spend (£)

Drinks

Alcohol, soft drinks and mixers (£)

Decorations

Balloons, flowers, lighting and props (£)

Entertainment

DJ, band, photographer or hired activities (£)

Other Costs

Invitations, favours, transport and extras (£)

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 + contingency + tip
Remaining budget = total budget − total spend
Cost per guest = total spend ÷ number of guests
Each category (and the combined contingency & tip) is shown as a percentage of total spend, so the slices add up to 100%

Indicative UK party benchmarks (Bark / Bridebook 2025-26) suggest: 30-40% venue, 25-30% catering, 10-15% drinks, 10% decorations, 5-10% entertainment. A 5-10% contingency for unexpected costs is widely recommended. Use these as a guide, not a fixed rule.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Plan your party decoration budget across balloons, flowers, table settings and themed items. Stay on track with your spending. Free online calculator.

Catering Budget Calculator

Budget for food and drink costs per head at your party or event. Cover starters, mains, desserts and beverages within your budget. Free calculator.

Last updated: February 2026

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