Free Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Calculator: Total and per Guest

Thanksgiving gets expensive one grocery run at a time. Put in your guest count and your local prices to see the whole dinner's cost before you shop, what it works out to per guest, and how much it drops if guests bring dishes.

It runs in your browser. Nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere. The numbers filled in below are a made-up example; prices vary a lot by store and region, so check your store's ad and type in your own.

How many people are eating:

Turkey per person, lb (1 to 1.5 lb is typical for a whole bird, more if you want leftovers):

Turkey price per lb, $:

Number of side dishes:

Average cost per side dish, $:

Number of desserts (pies, etc.):

Average cost per dessert, $:

Drinks per person, $:

Appetizers and rolls, $ total:

Extras, $ (foil pans, napkins, ice, to-go containers):

Guests bringing a dish (0 if you cook it all):

Weeks left to save for it (optional):

Calculate

How the math works

• Turkey = guests × pounds per person × price per pound.
• Sides = number of sides × cost per side. Desserts work the same way.
• Drinks = guests × drinks per person.
• Total = turkey + sides + desserts + drinks + appetizers + extras. Per guest = total ÷ guests.
• Potluck: if some guests bring the sides, desserts, drinks and appetizers, the host covers the turkey and extras.

Example (made up): 10 people, 12.5 lb of turkey at $1.79 a pound is $22.38. Six sides at $9 are $54, two desserts at $10 are $20, drinks at $3 a person are $30, appetizers and rolls $15 and extras $12. Total $153.38, about $15.34 a guest, or $38.34 a week over 4 weeks.

This doesn't count pantry staples you already have, decorations, or travel. It's an estimate for planning, not financial advice.

Plan the whole day, not just the cost

The Thanksgiving Planner Printable 2026 ($5) has a dinner budget with cost per person, the guest list, a menu planner, a who-brings-what potluck sign-up, a grocery list with cost columns, a two-week countdown and a day-of cooking timeline. Works for Friendsgiving too. 10 pages, print at home, US Letter and A4.

Get the planner on Gumroad – $5

We make this planner, so take that into account. The calculator above is free to use either way.

Related free guides

• How to Budget for Thanksgiving Dinner (Example Numbers)
• First-Time Thanksgiving Host: Checklist and Budget
• Thanksgiving Grocery List 2026 (With Amounts Per Guest)
• Friendsgiving Budget: Host or Bring a Dish (Example Numbers)

More free tools: all calculators.

See all Cedar & Ledger templates