Christmas Dinner Cost Calculator
To estimate the cost of Christmas dinner, multiply each item's quantity by its price, add them up and divide by the number of guests for the cost per person. This calculator does that from your shopping list, with illustrative prices you can change.
Published by CookingCalculator.co.uk. Last reviewed .
How the cost is calculated
- Each item's cost is its quantity multiplied by its price: per kg for weights, per litre for liquids, and per item, packet or portion otherwise.
- The total is the sum of priced items. Items without a price are listed separately and left out.
- Cost per person is the total divided by the number of guests sharing it. Children count as one guest each.
- Quantities come from your shopping list, so changing one here changes it on the list too.
- We do not offer economy or premium price levels, because we have no reliable source for them.
Worked example: Christmas dinner cost for 6 adults
The standard six-adult shopping list with our illustrative prices, written on 13 October 2026. These are example prices, not current UK supermarket prices, and the total is not the actual or average cost of Christmas dinner.
| Item | Quantity | Example price (not a shop price) | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole turkey | 3kg | £7.00 per kg | £21.00 |
| Roasting potatoes (Maris Piper or King Edward) | 1.5kg | £1.00 per kg | £1.50 |
| Carrots | 500g | £0.70 per kg | £0.35 |
| Parsnips | 500g | £1.50 per kg | £0.75 |
| Brussels sprouts | 500g | £2.00 per kg | £1.00 |
| Stuffing mix | 2 packets | £1.00 per packet | £2.00 |
| Pigs in blankets | 18 | £0.40 each | £7.20 |
| Gravy granules | 38g | £10.00 per kg | £0.38 |
| Cranberry sauce (or bread sauce) | 250g | £7.50 per kg | £1.88 |
| Christmas pudding | 600g | £8.00 per kg | £4.80 |
| Total | £40.86 | ||
| Per person (6) | £6.81 | ||
- Meat and main courses: £28.20
- Vegetables and fresh produce: £3.60
- Dry goods and cupboard ingredients: £9.06
Christmas dinner costs: common questions
How much does Christmas dinner cost?
It depends mostly on the main and how many people you feed, so there is no single answer. As an example only, our illustrative prices put the standard menu for six adults at £40.86 (£6.81 a head). That is not the actual or average cost of Christmas dinner: enter your own prices for a real estimate.
How much is Christmas dinner for 10 people?
As an example only, the same illustrative prices put ten adults at £67.49 (£6.75 per person). Real costs depend on where you shop and what you buy.
What is the biggest Christmas dinner cost?
Usually the main course. In the example, the turkey is the largest single item, so a change in its price per kg moves the total most.
Are these supermarket prices?
No. They are illustrative planning estimates written on 13 October 2026, not live prices and not from any particular shop. Replace them with your own.
Limitations and exclusions
- Starting prices are estimates, not current shop prices. They will be wrong for some shops and weeks.
- Drinks, starters, cheese, snacks, crackers, decorations and energy costs are not included unless you add them.
- Prices are per kg, per litre or per item, so packs that must be bought whole may cost more than shown.
Next: plan the dinner timings or go back to the shopping list.