How much did you pay for your child’s last birthday party?

[catcatcat24]

I am starting a business hosting children’s birthday parties.

I do not have any children myself and so I would appreciate some input from others regarding how much you pay on average for your child’s parties and the maximum that you would spend on a 2 hour party.

Thank you!

It depends where you are and what you're offering. In what way are you hosting? What kind of thing are you thinking of providing? What age range?

I spent £1100 on first birthday

I’m in Scotland. I can host at the parent’s home or in a hall. It’s an experience party with luxury decor and activities. Sorry, I know that is very cryptic but it’s quite a unique idea so I don’t want to reveal too much!

Thank you for the response!

£1200 for 8th birthday party last yr. 16 kids.

I spent €350 on the last party, it was at home and had a bouncy castle included for that price. I have spent a lot less in the past, but this one was really special.

£300-£400, that’s including hall hire, entertainment and food, or a party activity package with food. We’ve done both. Number of party guests ranging from 20-32.

Approx £500 - poss as much as £600...

10 kids and 10-15 adults. It included entry to venue, Lunches and decent party bags

If you’re just providing the activity and no venue or food then I would pay £200-£250. Hall hire and food/party bags would add on another £200.

We spent £910 for my Y6’s last party. BUT they did 3 amazing water based activities which lasted a whole day. I think you have to be careful with asking people how much they spent because you are basically hiring yourself out as an entertainer - presumably parents have to hire a hall (if not at home) provide food etc and the costs we are giving you include all that.

We host and run kids parties at our forest venue and we charge £275 for 3 hours for 12 kids including hot dogs and marshmallows (it’s too cheap and needs to go up - it’s not our main focus but needs to be addressed). For a party entertainer only (however luxury) I wouldn’t expect to pay more than £150-200 for a couple of hours given the additional costs on top,

Thank you so much for all the responses. Maybe I need to look into catering for the parties too if that’s the lack of food would put parents off booking :)

Local party entertainer rates are about £150 to £200 per party where I live. Usually the entertainer turns up to your house/home 20 to 30 mins before the party starts to set up; entertainment lasts one hour and entertainer leaves right away (last half hour is food).

If there is skill or equipment involved it might be higher.

I did however pay £300 for one entertainer (a fabulous magician) - 30 kids plus adults. But that was a special occasion and several people told me it was the best children’s entertainment they had ever seen.

I usually give a cash tip too, especially if they have travelled a distance.

I’d only expect catering if it was a proper venue that happens to do parties like softplay/pottery cafe/ escape room/ laserquest or bowling.

If it’s in someone’s home or a random church hall venue, I would aways expect to provide food as mum of birthday kid. It would be odd for the party entertainer to bring food!

You could offer themed party bags though, to chime with whatever activity you are offering. Bonus there is you can pop in an advertising leaflet so parents can rebook you if they like you.

Thanks for the tips!

It’s more of an activity party rather than me being the entertainment. Thanks for the feedback, really helpful.

I know you don’t want to share the activity but without knowing what it is, it’s hard to advise. £910 was for paddle boarding, power boating and raft building for for 13 with 3 instructors across 8 hours. If it’s turning up to a house or a hall with ride on toys and a disco (I know it isn’t but just giving an example) then I still consider that entertainer territory and wouldn’t expect to pay more than £250 tops.

DDs is £650; includes everything though plus cake. I have yet to come across an option for around thirty children that’s any less, to be honest.

About £350 for climbing & cooked food for 15.

I will spend on an activity that involves facilities or equipment i cant provide (climbing, swimming, laser tag) but generally not for entertainers, luxury decor like glam sleepover tents or themed experiences like beauty makeovers, because in my experience for the cost involvee the kids dont appreciate the extra aspect the "professional". They tend to enjoy the no frills home organised version of it just the same and theres no real skill involved

About £150 for 30 kids and parents. It was a 4th birthday party and we used our church hall, borrowed loads of activities and ride on cars etc and just did old school games like musical statues. He had the best time and so did his friends!

We spent around £220 on DS’s 6th birthday party recently. This included 3 hours hall hire, activities (huge Hot Wheels track, Lego and colouring), tea and coffee for the adults, hot party food for the kids and it was all run by 2 hosts so we didn’t need to set up or tidy up. We provided cupcakes, birthday cake and party bags so probably spent another £40 or so on those. There were 15 children at the party. We thought it was really good value.

£200 for 10 children plus party bags in the SE. £250 is my max for a kids party. I'm a bit shocked at over a grand. We don't have that kind of money and if we did we wouldn't spend it on a kids party.

The more bespoke party packages seem to be around the £300 mark. Plus you have hall hire and food etc.

Honestly depends on the offering and who you are targeting. I've spent thousands in the past but expect a very high end / unique experience for that

@catcatcat24 these things are highly dependent on geographic area and demographics. I suggest looking up local soft plays and activities to see what they charge and offer for party packages. I have never paid more than about £400 for an all-in party (i.e. activity plus catering and party bags). Spending over a grand is unthinkable in my area/friend group.

Gosh, posters have posted quite a lot! We either party at home, or £150-180 on soft play, horse riding or something. That’s the max I’d spend! When older a bit different. My daughter’s 13th we went away for the weekend and had a night in a hotel.

2year old probably about £1500 - hall hire, bouncy castle/soft play hire and a basketball shoot type for older cousins, balloons were £300 and food/decor on top