What is a typical cost per guest for a party?

A casual house party runs £10-£20 per guest. A catered birthday party is £25-£50 per head. Corporate events average £50-£100. Weddings in the UK average £100-£200 per guest. These figures include food, drink, venue, and basic entertainment.

What are fixed vs variable party costs?

Fixed costs stay the same regardless of guest numbers - venue hire, DJ, photographer, cake. Variable costs change with guest count - food per head, drink per head, favours, place settings. Understanding the split helps you see the real cost impact of adding guests.

How does adding more guests affect cost per head?

More guests spread fixed costs over more people, reducing cost per head. But variable costs add up for each additional guest. There is typically a sweet spot where cost per head is minimised - this calculator helps you find it.

Should I use total cost or itemised costs?

If you already know your total spend, enter it directly. If you want to understand how fixed and variable costs interact, use the itemised fields. The calculator works either way.

PartyCalcs

Per Guest Cost Calculator — Cost Per Head

Work out exactly how much each guest costs at your party or event.

Number of Guests

Total Cost (if known)

Fixed Costs (venue, DJ, etc.)

Variable Cost per Head

How We Calculate This

This calculator divides your total event costs by the number of guests to give a per-head figure.

Formula

Grand total = fixed costs + (variable cost per head x guests)
Cost per guest = grand total / number of guests
Fixed cost per guest = fixed costs / number of guests

You can either enter a known total cost directly, or break it down into fixed and variable components for more insight.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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