What is the cost of a Thanksgiving Dinner dinner?

Every year, we hear "the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner for a family or 4 (or 10) is ____" . So, what is this number for 2024, and how is it calculated?

We believe our calculation of the total cost of the average Thanksgiving dinner is - by far - the most accurate.  You'll see why as we include things that are necessary, but the average newspaper journalist seems to forget.

Calculators:

See these pages for the

• Thanksgiving dinner calculator
• Christmas dinner calculator

or for Christmas:

• Estimate of this year's Christmas dinner costs and statistics

 

What's in an American Thanksgiving holiday dinner?

There are definitely regional differences (no, Southerner's don't serve grits... but cheese and grits, maybe, cornbread stuffing, for sure). But, we can assume a basic holiday dinner includes the following:

We found the prices at a Kroger store on November 13, 2023. They are documented in the accompanying photos.

 

Table of dinner items and costs

Excluding alcohol. I cannot even guess how much some of you can drink...

Item and percentage of Americans who serve it	Price each	16 lb for 4 to 6 people	24 lbs -for 10 people
Turkey - Roast or smoked, or fried (fried requires peanut oil, an additional cost)	$1.68/lb	$26.88	$40.32
Cranberry sauce - at least 1 can per 4 people. Of course, you can make your own cranberry sauce or jellied cranberry sauce very easily with fresh cranberries and sugar (or stevia)	$1.50	$3.00	$4.50
Stuffing (a.k.a, dressing) This assumes you use a box or bag mix. If you make it yourself it costs more - but is considerably better.	$3.00	$3.00	$6.00
Gravy packet, ($1.79) with drippings from the turkey, and you'll need chicken broth. Again, it is easy to make from scratch yourself.	$1.79	$1.79	$3.58
Chicken broth ($3.00)for the gravy	$3.00	$3.00	$6.00
Mashed potatoes  - 5-pound bag of russet potatoes, plus some milk, sometimes butter. Or in the South, Sweet potato casserole. Sweet potatoes can be baked, mashed or made into a casserole. They cost slightly more, and for the casserole need milk, eggs, brown sugar, even marshmallows.	$4.29	$4.29	$8.58
Dinner rolls, 12 bread or buns $4 to $8, depending how many and which brand	$4.00	$4.00	$8.00
Green bean casserole - Green beans (per can) at least 2 cans for a casserole for 4 - 6 people	$.89	$1.78	$3.56
Cream of mushroom soup for the bean casserole	$1.25	$2.50	$5.00
Fried onions (6 ounces): a topping for the the green bean casserole	$4.29	$4.29	$4.29
Pies: Apple, pumpkin, pecan or sweet potato pie; a 9 inch pie yield 8 small slices, so most people get 2 pies, frequently one pumpkin, the other, either apple or pecan. Pecan pie  is the most expensive. $10 for a small one, Pumpkin pie is the cheapest $6 for a small one $10 for a large one Apple pie is always popular, $10 at Costco for a huge one Most families like to have 2, both a pumpkin pie AND something else (pecan, apple, red velvet cake, etc.)	$6.00	$12.00	$15.00
Miscellaneous - there are always a few things you realize you're out of, like butter, milk for the mashed potatoes, sour cream, whipped cream, a spice or you have to get something special for Aunt Karen because she is lactose, gluten - nut-intolerant) So add in $10 for those things		$10	$15
Extras and alternatives (NOT included in the cost estimate below)
Ham - Some people like both turkey AND ham. Assume 1/2 to 3/4 lb per person (we did not include the cost of ham in the total, but you can add it to your meal's calculation in our Thanksgiving dinner calculator Some people like both turkey AND ham. Assume 1/2 to 3/4 lb per person	$4.56 per pound

The bottom line:

Total for 4 - 6 people: $76.53   plus tax  ($4.59 at 6%, total = $81.12)

Total for 10 - 12 people: $119.83    plus tax   ($7.14 at 6%, total = $127.02)

You can edit the ingredients, quantity and costs with our Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Calculator!

Give it a try! and then print the results as a shopping list!

Remember, while the inflation rate may have slowed, that only means that the rate of increase of food prices has slowed; it does not mean food prices have come down a single penny.

 

Recipes

You can also save money and make a MUCH better tasting dish without processed chemical, by making it yourself.  And it is so easy with our recipes. These are by far the best and easiest:

• Roast Turkey - Make a tasty, juicy turkey with these EASY, illustrated instructions! And easy clean up, too!
• Smoked turkey (How to smoke a turkey in your back yard smoker or grill)
• Gravy - how to make an easy, tasty turkey gravy
• Stuffing - also called "dressing"
• Sweet potato casserole
• Mashed potatoes
• Cranberry sauce
• Jellied cranberry sauce
• Cran-apple sauce
• Pumpkin pie from a fresh or canned pumpkin!
• Pecan pie
• Apple pie - with a crumb topping - The world's best apple pie!
• Pumpkin cheesecake - INCREDIBLE!!! You have to try this one!

Other Desserts, Cookies and Treats

• Step by step directions to make a gingerbread house, easily !
• Gingerbread cookies
• Cinnamon buns, sticky buns etc.
• Chocolate Yule log
• Leb Kuchen
• Roasted Chestnuts (oven or "open fire")
• World's best blueberry pie! (from fresh or frozen berries)
• Blueberry cheesecake
• Christmas decorated sugar cookies!
• Pumpkin cookies

 

How to get the best prices and best deal?

Can you do it for less. Sure. Here's how

Overall tips to cut costs

• Buy at Costco or Sam's Club - Their prices on these items are FAR lower; turkeys,  pies, etc and their quality is the best.  Turkeys were $0.98/lb there for frozen Butterball brand.
• Buy generic or store brands.  They're usually made by the same companies
• Look for store specials and sales the week before the holiday.
• Sign up for digital coupons on store apps and the store's loyalty program. 
• Don't wait until the last minute - stores often run out!

 

Turkey

In 2024, it's costing from $0.99 per pound for frozen store brand to $1.68 for frozen butterball to $3/lb for organic, fresh or just the breast.

In general, per pound, frozen turkey is the best value:

• Fresh turkey costs double a frozen turkey.
• Organic turkey costs 3 or 4 times a frozen turkey
• Turkey breasts (bone-in) costs 3 times a frozen whole turkey

Costco and Sam's usually have the best prices, in 2024, around $1.00 per pound for whole turkeys.

Many grocery stores have special low prices on turkey if you buy more than a specified amount of groceries (like $50 or $75) when you buy the turkey.

Side dishes

Get your guests to each bring one!

• Green bean casserole
• Mashed potatoes
• Sweet potato casserole
• Steamed broccoli
• Stuffing or dressing (nobody who doesn't want to get salmonella cooks it in the bird, anyway)
• Salad

Desserts

Same, here, have a guest bring one.

Make your own Pumpkin pie from a fresh winter squash - it is EASY - see this page, and tastes SO much better!

Most popular dishes

According to Yahoo, from a 2020 survey by YouGov, the top 20 most popular dishes for a Christmas dinner are shown in the table at right.  See the Yahoo page for the full list! :

 

What do OTHER sources estimate the costs to be?

The American Farm Bureau (AFB) produces an annual estimate of the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner which is then quoted by most (if not all) newspaper and other mass media). Their dinner for 10 people includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk, Here are their past estimates (their estimate is released Nov 15 each year)

Frankly, I think their estimate is absurdly low.  Have you ever been able to do Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people for these costs?

Source and year	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
AFB	$49.12	$48.90	$48.91	$46.90	$53.31	$64.05	$61.17
Yahoo Finance, for 11 people		$152
Fox News San Antonio				$60.29
MoneyGeek							$125 to $150

 

Average Thanksgiving Dinner Cost, from 1998 to present

This is based on the American Farm Bureau's data, for 10 people.  I believe this underestimates to true actual cost of the average Thanksgiving dinner by 25% - 50%. However, the trends should be accurate.

 

Here are the general inflation facts:

• Food prices at the grocery store are up 17% since 2021.
• In 2022, the inflation rate hit 13%. 
• In 2023, the food inflation rate was at 2.4%,

 

What does YOUR Thanksgiving dinner include and cost? Send us an email and will compile the feedback!

Click here to send your feedback!

 

References

1. The Bureau of Labor Statistics,
2. Consumer Price Index report.
3. Yahoo Finance

For Easter egg Hunts, Children's Consignment Sales, Local Farm Markets and other types of Farms, click here.