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!

£600 for primary age kids inviting the entire class, price includes everything (entertainer, venue hire, catering, cake, party bags, pinata). I wouldn’t pay more and I am not bothered at all about decorations. My priority is to have the kids fully engaged for 1.5hrs so the parents can relax and socialise. And then another hour for food/cake and kids roaming around burning the sugar rush..

The most we've ever spent was £350 on a full class party. Up until year 2 it was full class parties then around 6-10 kids after that. £200 was average but I'm in cheaper part of UK. It's about £18 a head for venues like soft play/clip and climb/trampoline/ninja warrior and includes food and sometimes a basic party bag. A bouncy castle hire around here is £80-150, church hall hire £12 an hour. If you are expecting people to host at home and doesn't include food or party bags I think £35 a head is very expensive for that age range, maybe more reasonable for tween/teens who might only invite a few friends. But it depends on the affluence and demographic of where you live.

That’s really helpful, thank you and everyone else for the responses!

Average around here is £25ish pp including an activity (laser tag, clip n climb) and food - pizza, nuggets etc.

I shudder at that price and am grateful he’s now in secondary school so full parties not needed!

I am pretty surprised at the prices being mentioned here and think you need to do a lot of detailed research into your local area and market.

I have had whole class parties for less than £200 a few times. Our local leisure providers will hire out a pool or run an activity like football etc for about £150. I have also done things like take the kids to an activity as a group but not booked as a party and then on to McDonald's for £10/head.

Mine are older now and so less people involved each time but we have done cinema with goodie bags and an escape room them home pizzas after.

We are doing a watersports party which is more expensive but will still be under £300.

I categorically wouldn't spend £30+ per child for school friends or younger children.

Last month, 12 kids less than £200 including venue.
This weekend. For 10. At home. less than £100

Typically most parties include

• venue
• food
• activity(ies)
• party bags

Obviously some parents will definately want ALL those things done by one person, but I think a lot won't mind if they aren't. I quite enjoy catering for example. However what I would say is that budgets will include those things. Obviously if you are doing a package with EVERYTHING, parents will be happy to pay a lot more. If they are spending maybe £100 on hall hire, £100on food, and something on party bags, you need to be thinking of your charge being what parents will be happy to spend minus £215 say. If you are providing a venue, food and party bags then all the money they are spending will go to you.

To clarify this was 1 hr air gliding, 1 hr trampolining 1 hr food and venue did the party bags. We did extra bits for the party bags/extra food for parents, balloons and cake.

DS did an escape room thing with 12 friends it included food at the venue, we made our own party bags as theirs were a bit rubbish, it cost about £375 not including the cake (I make them so not sure about ingredients cost) which was much cheaper than the one in the hall with a bouncy castle and catering! That was full class though.
I'd pay up to £500 ish but for that I'd want the venue provided and to just turn up and the event is run for me.

ETA we always do a family party at home too and cater that, so I don't want to go overboard on the friends party