What percentage of guests RSVP?

For formal events with RSVP cards, 80-90% of guests respond. For casual events with informal RSVPs (text, email), only 50-70% respond. Wedding RSVPs typically get 85-95% response rates. Following up with non-responders significantly improves response rates.

Will guests who did not RSVP still come?

About 40-50% of non-responders typically show up to casual events; for formal events about 30-40% attend. As a sanity check, industry data (The Knot, RSVPify) shows roughly 80-85% of all invitees accept and around 83% ultimately attend, so this calculator defaults to a 45% non-responder attendance rate as a defensible midpoint. It is always best to follow up directly with anyone who has not responded rather than guessing.

When should the RSVP deadline be?

Set the RSVP deadline 2-3 weeks before the event for casual parties, and 4-6 weeks before for weddings or catered events. This gives you time to chase non-responders and finalise numbers with caterers and venues.

How do I chase RSVPs without being pushy?

Send a friendly reminder 1 week after the RSVP deadline. A personal text or call works better than a group message. Phrase it as needing to confirm numbers for catering rather than chasing them. Most people simply forgot rather than deliberately ignoring the invite.

RSVP Calculator — Free Invitations & Guests Tool

How We Calculate This

This calculator helps you estimate total attendance by combining confirmed RSVPs with predictions for non-responders.

How it calculates

Still waiting = total invited − accepted − declined − no reply yet (the leftover gap, never below zero)
Response rate = (accepted + declined) ÷ total invited × 100
Acceptance rate = accepted ÷ responded × 100
Estimated from non-replies = (no reply yet + still waiting) × no-reply attendance rate (default 45%)
Total expected = confirmed yes + estimated from non-replies + (confirmed yes × planning buffer%)

The no-reply attendance rate and planning buffer are adjustable under Advanced options. The 45% default for non-responders is a middle ground based on event-planner guidance (The Knot / RSVPify): plan for roughly 80–85% acceptance, and assume about 40–50% of non-responders attend casual events, 30–40% for formal ones. The planning buffer (default 0%) adds a small allowance on top of confirmed guests for unexpected plus-ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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

RSVP Calculator — Track Guest Responses