Christmas food budget per head
Food is often the second-biggest Christmas cost after gifts. Set it per head, so the shop matches the guest list, not the adverts.
| Meal (your estimate) | £ per adult |
|---|---|
| Christmas dinner (turkey or alternative, trimmings, pudding) | |
| Christmas Eve and breakfasts | |
| Boxing Day and leftovers meals | |
| Snacks, cheese board, sweets | |
| Drinks (alcohol and soft) |
The pre-filled amounts are only a starting point. Change them to match your shop and the supermarket you use.
How to keep the food bill down
- Plan the meals, then the list: write every meal from Christmas Eve to 27 December, and shop only for those.
- Buy the long-life things early (drinks, frozen food, tins, crackers, sweets), spread over November, so it doesn't land in one week.
- Plan the leftovers: turkey curry, bubble and squeak, sandwiches. Most food waste at Christmas is uneaten extras.
- Ask guests to bring one thing, like dessert, drinks or the cheese board. It's normal, and it saves a lot.
- Compare loyalty prices: many supermarket "deals" need the loyalty card or app.
Then add gifts and the rest with the Christmas budget calculator, and hosting extras with the hosting cost calculator.
Free printable: UK Christmas budget checklist 2026 (PDF, no email needed)
Plan 4 weeks of meals and keep the food shop on budget.
A 4-week meal plan, a shopping list totalled against your budget, a weekly spend dashboard and a 6-supermarket price check.
Get it for £4 →Know exactly what Christmas will cost, and what to save each week until 25 December.
A Google Sheets and Excel planner: gift list, food and drink, extras, a dashboard and a week-by-week saving plan to 25 December.
Get it for £5 →All 10 paid templates (worth £54) for £15: £1.50 each.
Every paid Tidy Life template in one download: budget, bills, debt, Self-Assessment, landlord & MTD, Christmas, January reset, Vinted, house move, meal plan and job hunt.
Get it for £15 →FAQs
How much does Christmas dinner cost per person in the UK?
It depends on the menu and the supermarket. Set your own figure per adult in the calculator above, and count children as about half a portion.
How do I budget for Christmas food?
Count the people and the meals (not just Christmas dinner), put a £ per adult on each, and save the total weekly from now. Buy long-life items early, so the cost is spread out.
Kit list: Christmas gifts under £10: secret Santa and stocking fillers. (Our page. It includes Amazon affiliate links.)
Related calculators & guides
Hosting cost calculator · Gift budget per person · Christmas budget calculator · Weekly food budget guide · Free Christmas checklist (PDF)
- Glass meal-prep containers with lids (Amazon)
- 3.5 litre slow cooker (Amazon)
- Freezer bags & labels (Amazon)