The latest verified Thanksgiving dinner cost is $55.18 for 10 people, or $5.52 per person, down 5% in the Farm Bureau’s 2025 survey, and its 2026 survey had not been published as of November 14, 2026. Early 2026 guidance puts a broader traditional dinner for 10 at $80 to $100, while the 16-pound turkey made up 39% of the 2025 bill at $21.50.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost 2026 – Introduction
The Thanksgiving dinner cost for 2026 has no official number yet. Thanksgiving falls on November 26, 2026, and the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) usually publishes its survey the week before the holiday. Last year’s release landed on November 19. Until it arrives, the 2025 survey is the best verified benchmark for US shoppers. Grocery stores also run holiday sales in November, so the price on your receipt may land below any survey average.
That benchmark shows three straight years of lower prices. The classic dinner for 10 fell to $55.18 in 2025, yet it still sits above the 2021 level. Turkey got cheaper while sides got pricier. This report covers the turkey, the side dishes, regional prices, the expanded menu and early 2026 budget guidance. Each section lists the confirmed numbers, shows what they mean for a US household budget and flags what remains unverified.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost 2026 Interesting Facts
Cost per person, classic vs expanded menu (AFBF 2025)
Classic menu | ██████████████ $5.52
Expanded menu | ███████████████████ $7.71
| Fact | Confirmed Data |
|---|---|
| Classic dinner for 10 | $55.18 (AFBF, 2025) |
| Cost per person | $5.52 |
| Change from 2024 | -5% |
| Price streak | 3rd straight annual decline |
| 16-pound turkey | $21.50, down 16% |
| Expanded menu for 10 | $77.09, or $7.71 per person |
| Survey history | 40th annual survey, started in 1986 |
| Thanksgiving 2026 date | November 26, 2026 |
| AFBF 2026 survey | Not published as of mid-November 2026 |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025.
Every dollar figure above comes from the 2025 survey, the latest verified release. The classic menu prices a turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, all sized for 10 people. The menu has stayed the same since 1986, so year-to-year comparisons stay fair. Shoppers record the best everyday price without coupons or special deals, which keeps the result close to a normal shelf price.
The expanded menu adds ham, Russet potatoes and green beans. That raises the Thanksgiving dinner cost by $21.91. Volunteer shoppers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico collect the prices. Treat the 2025 figures as a floor for 2026 planning, and swap in the new survey numbers once AFBF publishes them. A family of 10 can multiply the per-person figure by guest count for a quick estimate, then add drinks and extras on top.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost by Year: 2022 to 2026 Trend
Classic dinner for 10 (USD)
2022 | █████████████████████ $64.05
2023 | ████████████████████ $61.17
2024 | ███████████████████ $58.08
2025 | ██████████████████ $55.18
2026 | ░ not yet published
| Year | Cost for 10 | Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $64.05 | $6.41 |
| 2023 | $61.17 | $6.12 |
| 2024 | $58.08 | $5.81 |
| 2025 | $55.18 | $5.52 |
| 2026 | Pending | Pending |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2022 to 2025.
The classic Thanksgiving dinner cost peaked at $64.05 in 2022, a record. It has dropped every year since, and the 2025 total is about 14% below that peak. Per-person cost fell from $6.41 to $5.52, a gap of 89 cents a guest. The 2025 drop of $2.90 from 2024 equals the 5% decline AFBF reported. Four years of data show a clear arc: a sharp spike, then a slow retreat.
Prices remain above the 2021 level, so shoppers have not recovered all earlier losses. The 2026 row stays empty because AFBF has not released it. Readers who need a planning number should use $5.52 per person as the latest verified base and add a margin for sides. A margin of 10% covers most surprises at the register.
Turkey Price Per Pound 2026: Thanksgiving Turkey Cost Statistics
Turkey price per pound (USD)
US average, AFBF 2025 | █████████████ $1.34
New York, AFBF 2025 | ██████████████████ $1.77
Target, 2026 promotion | ████████ $0.79
Walmart, 2026 promotion | ██████████ $0.97
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| 16-pound frozen turkey, US average | $21.50 |
| Change from 2024 | -16% |
| Price per pound, US average | $1.34 |
| 16-pound turkey, New York | $28.27 |
| Turkey share of dinner cost | 39% |
| Long-run average share | 43% |
| Turkey eaten per American each year | 13 pounds |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025; New York Farm Bureau; price-tracking reports on 2026 retailer promotions.
Turkey no longer dominates the receipt. It made up 39% of the 2025 bill, its lowest share since 2000, against a long-run average of 43%. A 16-pound bird costs $21.50, which works out to $1.34 a pound. New York shoppers paid $28.27, or $1.77 a pound, so local prices vary a lot. Shipping distance, store type and local supply all play a part, and Northeast and West shoppers often see higher shelf prices.
Frozen turkeys fell in price even as fresh turkeys rose, because avian flu hit the fresh supply. Most families buy frozen. Demand also keeps sliding: the average American eats 13 pounds a year, nearly 3 pounds less than six years ago. Retailer promotions of 79 cents at Target and 97 cents at Walmart suggest stores will again use turkey to draw shoppers in 2026. Expect the same pattern at other chains, with turkey priced low to bring families through the door and sides priced at normal rates.
Thanksgiving Side Dishes Cost 2026: Which Items Rose and Fell
Price change vs 2024 (each block = 3 points)
Veggie tray | ████████████████████ +61%
Sweet potatoes | ████████████ +37%
Cranberries | █ -2.8%
Stuffing | ███ -9%
Dinner rolls | █████ -14.6%
| Item | 2025 Price Change |
|---|---|
| Veggie tray (carrots and celery) | +61% |
| Sweet potatoes | +37% |
| Frozen peas, whole milk, whipping cream | Rose |
| Pumpkin pie mix and shells | Virtually unchanged |
| Cranberries | -2.8% |
| Cubed stuffing | -9% |
| Dinner rolls | -14.6% |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025.
Sides now carry the Thanksgiving dinner cost. Without the turkey, the rest of the basket totals $33.68, or 61% of the bill. The veggie tray jumped more than 61% and sweet potatoes rose 37%. Both start from low prices, so small dollar increases create large percentage swings. A veggie tray costs only a few dollars, so a jump of one or two dollars shows up as a huge percentage.
Bakery items fell. Dinner rolls dropped 14.6% and stuffing dropped 9%, helped by low wheat prices. Cranberries slipped 2.8%. Five items rose, four fell and one stayed flat. Hurricane damage in North Carolina, which grows more than half of US sweet potatoes, cut yields before the holiday. Shoppers should compare produce prices across stores before buying, since fresh items vary the most from one week to the next.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost by Region 2026: West, Northeast, Midwest and South
Classic dinner for 10 by region (each block = $2)
West | ███████████████ $61.75
Northeast | ███████████████ $60.82
Midwest | █████████████ $54.38
South | ████████████ $50.01
| Region | Classic Dinner | Expanded Dinner |
|---|---|---|
| West | $61.75 | $84.97 |
| Northeast | $60.82 | $82.97 |
| Midwest | $54.38 | $76.33 |
| South | $50.01 | $71.20 |
| National | $55.18 | $77.09 |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025.
The West pays the most for a classic meal at $61.75, about 12% above the national average of $55.18. The Northeast follows at $60.82. The Midwest sits near the average at $54.38. The South pays the least at $50.01, which is $11.74 below the West.
The expanded menu widens the gap. Western families pay $84.97 with ham, Russets and green beans, while Southern families pay $71.20, a spread of $13.77. The West costs more than a dollar per person above every other region. Expect that order to hold in 2026 unless the new survey shifts it. Higher labor, rent and transport costs in coastal states likely explain much of the pattern, and shoppers in the South benefit from lower grocery prices overall.
Thanksgiving Dinner With Ham and Extra Sides 2026: Expanded Menu Cost
Expanded menu build-up for 10 (each block = $2.5)
Classic menu | ██████████████████████ $55.18
Ham, Russets, beans | █████████ +$21.91
Expanded total | ███████████████████████████████ $77.09
| Menu | Cost for 10 | Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Classic 2025 | $55.18 | $5.52 |
| Added items (ham, Russets, green beans) | $21.91 | $2.19 |
| Expanded 2025 | $77.09 | $7.71 |
| Expanded 2024 | $77.37 | $7.74 |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025.
AFBF added ham, Russet potatoes and green beans in 2018 to reflect how families actually cook. They add $21.91 to the bill, or $2.19 a guest. The expanded Thanksgiving dinner cost reached $77.09 in 2025, only 28 cents below 2024, because all three extra items rose in price.
That tells a different story from the classic menu. The classic basket fell 5%, but the expanded basket barely moved. Ham rose along with the potatoes and beans, so the added items offset the savings on turkey. Hosts who serve ham or green beans saw almost no relief. For 2026 budgets, the expanded figure of $7.71 per person is the safer planning base. Families that serve only the classic items can plan closer to $5.52.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost for 4, 6, 8 and 12 Guests in 2026
Classic menu scaled by guest count (each block = $3)
4 guests | ███████ $22.08
6 guests | ███████████ $33.12
8 guests | ███████████████ $44.16
10 guests | ██████████████████ $55.18
12 guests | ██████████████████████ $66.24
| Guests | Classic Menu | Expanded Menu |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | $22.08 | $30.84 |
| 6 | $33.12 | $46.26 |
| 8 | $44.16 | $61.68 |
| 10 | $55.18 | $77.09 |
| 12 | $66.24 | $92.52 |
Source: Scaled estimates from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025.
AFBF only prices a dinner for 10. The other rows multiply its $5.52 classic and $7.71 expanded per-person figures by the guest count. A dinner for 4 comes to about $22.08, and a dinner for 12 reaches about $66.24. The expanded menu adds roughly $8.76 for 4 guests and $26.28 for 12.
These numbers are estimates, not survey results. Stores sell turkeys, pies and vegetables in fixed sizes, so small tables often pay more per person than the math suggests. Larger gatherings gain from bulk buying. Use the table for quick planning, then compare your own Thanksgiving dinner cost against the shelf prices at your store.
Thanksgiving Dinner Budget 2026: Estimates and Hosting Costs
Cost estimates for 10 guests, upper bound (each block = $6)
AFBF classic 2025 | █████████ $55
Third-party 2026 estimate | ██████████ $58
Early 2026 guidance | █████████████████ $100
Hosting with drinks, extras| █████████████████████████████████ $200
| Estimate | Range for 10 | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| AFBF classic, 2025 | $55.18 | Verified survey |
| Third-party 2026 estimate | $56 to $58 | Not an AFBF figure |
| Early 2026 guidance | $80 to $100 | Broader traditional menu |
| Hosting budget | $150 to $200 | Includes drinks and extras |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF); published 2026 budget guides; ABC17 Stacker economy report.
The four ranges measure different baskets, so do not compare them directly. AFBF prices a fixed grocery list. The $80 to $100 guidance covers broader traditional menus. The $150 to $200 hosting budget adds drinks, snacks and extras, which can push total spending to roughly 3 times the classic dinner. Few households spend only on the AFBF list, so a hosting budget fits real behavior better.
One third-party estimate puts the 2026 classic meal near $5.60 to $5.80 per person, or $56 to $58 for 10. That is a forecast, not survey data. Shoppers who want the official Thanksgiving dinner cost for 2026 should wait for the AFBF release, due around the week before November 26. Check the AFBF release for exact dollar amounts, regional tables and item-level changes before you quote any 2026 number.
What Drives Thanksgiving Dinner Cost in 2026: Farm and Supply Factors
Items by price direction, AFBF 2025
Rose | █████ 5
Fell | ████ 4
Unchanged | █ 1
| Driver | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Avian flu | Fresh turkey rises while frozen turkey falls |
| Hurricane damage | North Carolina sweet potatoes up 37% |
| Labor costs | Nearly half of produce production expenses |
| Farm inputs | Fertilizer, fuel, machinery, labor and land stay high |
| Turkey demand | 13 pounds per person each year |
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Thanksgiving Dinner Survey, 2025; Mississippi State University Extension.
Five items rose, four fell and one held steady. Produce-heavy sides rose because growers face high labor and input costs. Labor makes up nearly half of production expenses for fruits and vegetables. Weather, transport delays and worker shortages can spike retail prices fast, which makes sides the riskiest part of the Thanksgiving dinner cost. Turkey tends to follow wholesale and promotion cycles, while produce responds to weather and labor in real time.
Farmers face tight margins. Crop prices fell while fuel, fertilizer, machinery and labor costs climbed, and many operations sit below breakeven. Shoppers benefit from cheaper turkey today, but those pressures can show up later at the store. Watch fresh produce first when the 2026 survey lands. The turkey line and the produce line will show whether the three-year decline continues or ends.
Thanksgiving Dinner Cost 2026 FAQ
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost in 2026?
No official 2026 figure exists yet. The latest verified cost is $55.18 for 10 people, or $5.52 per person, from the 2025 AFBF survey. Early 2026 guidance for broader menus runs from $80 to $100 for 10 guests.
When will the 2026 Farm Bureau Thanksgiving survey come out?
AFBF usually publishes it the week before Thanksgiving. The 2025 release came on November 19. Thanksgiving 2026 is November 26. Watch the AFBF site and national news for the release.
How much does a Thanksgiving turkey cost in 2026?
The 2025 average for a 16-pound frozen turkey was $21.50, or $1.34 a pound. Retailer promotions in 2026 reportedly start near 79 cents a pound. Prices vary by store, region and bird size.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost per person?
The classic menu cost $5.52 per person in 2025. The expanded menu with ham, Russets and green beans cost $7.71.
How much turkey do I need per person?
AFBF prices a 16-pound turkey for 10 people, which equals 1.6 pounds per guest. That amount leaves leftovers. Smaller groups can cut the bird to about 12 pounds for 8 guests and still keep some leftovers.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost for 4 people?
Scaling the $5.52 per-person figure gives about $22. Treat it as a rough estimate, since stores price items in fixed packages.
Is Thanksgiving dinner cheaper than last year?
In 2025 it was, by 5%. It was the third straight annual decline. The 2026 comparison awaits the new survey. Sale prices in November may still push your own total below last year.
Which region has the cheapest Thanksgiving dinner?
The South, at $50.01 for the classic menu in 2025. The West was the most expensive at $61.75. The Northeast came second at $60.82.
Which Thanksgiving side dishes cost more now?
The veggie tray rose more than 61% and sweet potatoes rose 37% in 2025. Peas, whole milk and whipping cream also rose. Dinner rolls, stuffing and cranberries fell.
Why is turkey cheaper but the dinner still costs more than 2021?
Frozen turkey prices fell, but sides, produce and dairy costs stayed elevated. The classic dinner remains below the 2022 record of $64.05. Four years of data show prices peaked in 2022 and have eased since.
How much should I budget to host Thanksgiving for 10 people?
Groceries for the classic menu cost about $55. A hosting budget with drinks and extras runs closer to $150 to $200. Add about 10% as a buffer for forgotten items. Prices shift weekly, so recheck before you shop.
Does the Farm Bureau survey include ham?
Not in the classic menu. AFBF tracks ham, Russet potatoes and green beans in a separate expanded menu that cost $77.09 in 2025.
What are the 2025 Farm Bureau Thanksgiving dinner cost numbers by region?
The classic menu cost $61.75 in the West, $60.82 in the Northeast, $54.38 in the Midwest and $50.01 in the South.
Where does the Thanksgiving dinner cost data come from?
Volunteer shoppers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico check prices in stores and on store websites for one week before the holiday.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
