Party budget calculator
Put in what you want to spend and what you're celebrating. You get the budget split the way that kind of party usually spends, line by line, and what it comes to per guest.
$600 for 30 guests is about $20 a head. The lines below add up to your number exactly.
| Category | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Food & drinks | 35% | $210 |
| Entertainment | 25% | $150 |
| Decorations | 12% | $70 |
| Cake | 10% | $60 |
| Goodie bags | 8% | $45 |
| Plates & supplies | 5% | $30 |
| Buffer | 5% | $35 |
This is one part of the plan. The rest is a checklist with real dates, a menu, a shopping list and an invite.
Plan the whole partyWhere the money goes, by occasion
The biggest line for each kind of party, and the share of the budget it usually takes. These are the same splits the calculator and the planner use.
| Occasion | Biggest line | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Kids' birthday | Food & drinks | 35% |
| Milestone birthday | Food & drinks | 45% |
| Surprise party | Food & drinks | 45% |
| Baby shower | Food & drinks | 40% |
| Housewarming | Food & drinks | 50% |
| Engagement | Food & catering | 40% |
| Graduation | Food & drinks | 45% |
| Festival get-together | Food & drinks | 50% |
| Vratham / Pooja | Prasadam & lunch | 40% |
| Potluck | Drinks | 35% |
| House party | Food | 40% |
| Dinner party | Groceries | 55% |
| Team party | Food & drinks | 50% |
Amounts are a starting point, not a quote: prices change by city and season. Need quantities as well? The drinks and supplies calculator works from the same headcount.
Questions
How do I split a party budget?
Start with food and drinks, which is the largest line at almost every party, then the things you have to book: venue, entertainment or a caterer. Decorations and supplies share what is left, and a small buffer covers what you forgot. The calculator does this split for each kind of party.
How much of a party budget should go on food?
It depends on the party. A dinner party is mostly groceries, a kids' birthday shares the money with entertainment and goodie bags, and a festival get-together spends more than usual on lights and décor. The table on this page shows the food share for each occasion.
How much should I budget per guest?
Divide your total by the headcount and the calculator shows it. The per-guest number matters more than the total: adding ten guests without adding money cuts every line, food first.
Should I keep a buffer?
Yes. Every split here ends in a buffer or a similar line, because something always costs more than planned: extra ice, a last-minute cake topper, a delivery fee.
Does the split change with the size of the budget?
The percentages stay the same, and the amounts are rounded to tidy numbers with the last line taking up the remainder, so the lines always add up to exactly what you entered.