Kids' birthday party budget
Budget per guest, not per party: count every child and grown-up who's coming. Then decide which two things matter most and spend there.
Three levels
These are the planning figures Festidi uses to start a budget. They're a starting point to adjust, not a quote; prices vary a lot by city and by what you already own.
| Level | Per guest | 20 guests |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Home food, homemade games | $15 | $260 |
| Standard Bakery cake and one hired activity | $25 | $540 |
| Splurge Entertainer, rentals, and custom decor | $50 | $1,000 |
By guest count
| Guests | Simple | Standard | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $130 | $270 | $500 |
| 15 | $195 | $405 | $750 |
| 20 | $260 | $540 | $1,000 |
| 25 | $325 | $675 | $1,250 |
| 30 | $390 | $810 | $1,500 |
Where the money goes
A rough split that works for most parties. Move money between the lines to match your big two.
| Where it goes | Share | Of $540 |
|---|---|---|
| Food and cake | 40% | $215 |
| Entertainment and activities | 25% | $135 |
| Decor and tableware | 20% | $110 |
| Favors and extras | 15% | $80 |
Ways to spend less
- Pick your big two. Often the cake and one activity. Keep everything else simple.
- Shorten the party. Two hours between mealtimes means snacks and cake instead of a full meal.
- Trim the guest list. A popular rule of thumb for younger kids is their age plus one.
- Save on decor. One color palette, plain plates and cups, and one standout piece, like a balloon garland or the cake table.
- Skip the bag of extras. One small favor per child costs less and gets used.
- Run your own games. A hired entertainer often costs a few hundred dollars. For ages 7 and up, organized games or a craft station keep the energy up for the price of supplies.
Track it as you go. Festidi's plan starts with one of these budgets and lets you add what you actually spend in each category, so you see what's left before you shop.
Start with a budget that fits
Add your guest count and Festidi builds the plan with a budget, a shopping list sized to replies, and an invitation with RSVPs.
Make your planDifferent party or guest count? Try the party budget calculator.