What this calculator does
Hosting Thanksgiving can cost more than you expect once the turkey, sides, pies and drinks are added up. This calculator totals your own shopping list, shows the cost per guest and what each household pays if you split the bill, and updates last year's dinner cost with the official change in grocery prices. Thanksgiving 2026 is Thursday, November 26.
How the numbers work
- Dinner total = the sum of the six categories you fill in.
- Per guest = total ÷ number of guests, including you.
- Per household = total ÷ the number of households sharing the cost.
- Last year's dinner at this year's grocery prices = last year's cost × the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home.
How much have grocery prices changed?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) measures grocery prices with the CPI for "food at home". The index was 316.042 in September 2025 and 321.758 in September 2026 (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), a rise of 1.8% over 12 months. We use September because BLS did not publish an index for October 2025, so there is no 12-month change to October 2026. This is an average for all groceries: some foods rose more and some less, and prices differ by region and store.
An example
A host plans turkey ($35), side dishes ($30), rolls ($6), pies ($15), drinks ($20) and other items such as plates and ice ($10): $116 in all. With 10 guests, that is $11.60 per guest, and if 3 households share the cost, about $38.67 each. Last year the same dinner cost $110; at this year's grocery prices it would cost about $111.99, so this year's plan is about $4.01 more.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Plan the menu first, make a list, and check what you already have.
- Compare prices per pound or per ounce with the unit price calculator, and look at store brands.
- Make it a potluck: each household brings a dish, which spreads the cost and the work.
- Traveling instead of hosting? Compare driving and flying with the Thanksgiving travel cost calculator, and keep it all in your holiday budget.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost?
It depends on your menu, the number of guests and where you shop. Add up your own list in the calculator to see your total and the cost per guest.
How much have grocery prices gone up?
According to the BLS Consumer Price Index, food-at-home prices rose 1.8% in the 12 months to September 2026, on average across the U.S.
How should we split the cost between families?
One simple way is to divide the total by the number of households. Another is a potluck, where each household brings a dish instead of money.
Why does the calculator use September prices?
BLS did not publish a food-at-home index for October 2025, so the latest 12-month change it can show is from September 2025 to September 2026.
Is my information saved?
No. The numbers stay in your browser and are not sent to us.