Each November the American Farm Bureau Federation prices a classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten. The latest published survey, its 40th, found a total of $55.18 in 2025, down 5% from the year before. The 2026 results come out in November, so this post uses the most recent edition and says so.
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost per person
The classic table works out to about $5.52 per person. The Farm Bureau's expanded basket, which adds ham, russet potatoes and frozen green beans, came to $77.09 or $7.71 per person.
Thanksgiving dinner cost by region
Prices differ by region: the South averaged $50.01, the Midwest $54.38, the Northeast $60.82 and the West $61.75, about 12% above the national average. The 16-pound turkey averaged $21.50, down 16%, and made up 39% of the classic total, the lowest share since 2000.
Average cost of Thanksgiving dinner for 10, and for everyone else
The survey prices ten people, so the figures do not transfer perfectly to a table of four or twenty. Scaling in proportion gives a rough guide, but your menu, brands and local prices will move the number.
Thanksgiving dinner cost calculator: compare with your budget
The calculator scales the survey to your headcount and region, then compares the result with your own grocery budget so you can see at a glance whether you are under or over.
Sources: American Farm Bureau Federation, "Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Analysis" (40th annual survey, 2025), fb.org.