Estimate the cost of hosting Thanksgiving: how big a turkey to buy, what sides, dessert and drinks add, and the cost per guest compared with the Farm Bureau benchmark.
By TanLabs · Formulas cross-checked against the free spreadsheet · Updated 2026-10-31 · Runs in your browser – nothing you type is sent anywhere
With guests 10, turkey per guest 1.5 lb, turkey price per lb $1.34, sides & dessert per guest $4, drinks & appetizers per guest $3, buffer for staples 10%:
Dinner total: $99.11 · $9.91 per guest
Buy about a 15 lb turkey ($20.10) · AFBF 2025 classic dinner: $5.52 per person
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Turkey weight = guests × lb per guest. Cost = weight × price per lb + guests × (sides + drinks), then × (1 + buffer %).
1.5 lb turkey per guest at $1.34/lb, $4 sides and dessert, $3 drinks per guest, 10% buffer:
| Guests | Turkey to buy | Turkey cost | Total dinner | Per guest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 6 lb | $8.04 | $39.64 | $9.91 |
| 8 | 12 lb | $16.08 | $79.29 | $9.91 |
| 10 | 15 lb | $20.10 | $99.11 | $9.91 |
| 16 | 24 lb | $32.16 | $158.58 | $9.91 |
| 24 | 36 lb | $48.24 | $237.86 | $9.91 |
A fuller menu costs about $9.90 per guest, compared with the $5.52 Farm Bureau classic menu. Drinks and appetizers are the line that grows fastest.
About 1 to 1.5 lb of whole bird per guest. Use 1.5 lb if you want leftovers.
The American Farm Bureau Federation put the classic dinner for 10 at $55.18 in 2025, about $5.52 per person, with a 16 lb frozen turkey at $1.34 per lb.
The survey covers a basic menu. Ham, extra sides, wine, appetizers and store-bought pies easily double it.
About 15 lb at 1.5 lb per person, or 10–12 lb if you do not want leftovers.
Per pound it costs more, but for four people a 5–6 lb breast avoids waste.
Usually in the last two weeks before Thanksgiving, when stores run feature prices.
Sources: American Farm Bureau Federation – 2025 Thanksgiving dinner cost survey