How Much Does Thanksgiving Dinner Cost in 2026?

Average Thanksgiving dinner cost

The best-known yardstick is the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) survey, which has priced the same classic menu for 10 people since 1986. Its newest figure is from 2025: a Thanksgiving dinner cost $55.18, or about $5.52 per person. That was 5% less than the $58.08 of 2024 and the third straight year of declines, but the 2022 record was $64.05.

AFBF usually releases its 2026 number the week before Thanksgiving. Until then, the 2025 survey is the most recent hard data, and we will update this page when the new figure is out.

Source: American Farm Bureau Federation, Nov 2025; Food Processing, Nov 2025. Per-person figures for 2024 and 2022 are our calculation.

Volunteer shoppers checked prices in the first week of November 2025. The survey assumes you cook everything yourself and buy at regular grocery stores.

Thanksgiving dinner cost by item

Here is what each item on the AFBF list cost nationally in 2025, and how much it changed from 2024.

Source: American Farm Bureau Federation 2025 survey, via Food Processing, Nov 2025.

The turkey is the big swing. At $1.34 a pound, it made up about 39% of the meal, its lowest share since 2000, compared with a long-run average of about 43%, according to The Packer’s report on the survey. Frozen birds got cheaper while fresh turkeys kept rising as the poultry industry dealt with bird flu, and many stores sell turkeys as loss leaders to bring shoppers in.

Cost by region

Where you live matters. The classic dinner for 10 cost $50.01 in the South, $54.38 in the Midwest, $60.82 in the Northeast and $61.75 in the West. With the expanded menu, the range was $71.20 in the South to $84.97 in the West. The West’s classic dinner cost about $11.74 more than the South’s (our calculation).

Will Thanksgiving dinner cost more in 2026?

There is no 2026 AFBF figure yet, but USDA’s October 2026 food price outlook gives useful clues:

• Groceries overall: food-at-home prices are forecast to rise 2.3% in 2026.
• Poultry: up 1.2%, a modest change for the turkey.
• Fresh vegetables: up 5.8%, which affects sweet potatoes, celery and carrots.
• Sugar and sweets: up 6.5%, which matters for pies.
• Dairy and eggs: dairy is forecast down 0.4% and eggs down 29.3%, good news for milk, cream and baking.
• Beef and veal: up 8.7%, if you serve roast beef instead of turkey.

If the whole 2025 basket simply rose with the 2.3% grocery forecast, it would cost about $56.45 for 10 people (our calculation). Treat that as a rough guide only, because AFBF’s result depends heavily on turkey deals in early November.

What people actually report

• People expect to spend far more than the AFBF basket. In Empower’s survey of 2,200 adults (September 2025), the average expected Thanksgiving dinner spend was $137: $176 for Gen Z, $169 for Millennials, $135 for Gen X and $90 for Boomers.
• Many plan to scale back. In the same survey, 42% said they would host a smaller Thanksgiving to save money and 26% planned to skip it because of costs.
• Common ways to cut: 23% planned fewer sides or desserts, 22% smaller quantities, 16% store brands and 15% cheaper or non-traditional proteins, per Empower.
• About 1 in 5 planned to spend less. Savings.com’s October 2025 survey of 2,502 adults found 19% expected to spend less than in 2024. Of those, 29% planned a smaller guest list and 17% a potluck.

Example: hosting Thanksgiving for 12

Say you are hosting 12 people and cooking the AFBF classic menu at home.

Source: AFBF 2025 survey; USDA FSIS serving guidance. All math is our calculation.

1. Pick the menu. The classic list is the floor. Adding ham and two more sides adds about $26 for 12 people.
2. Size the turkey. USDA FSIS suggests about 1 pound per person, so a 12-pound bird is enough. A bigger bird costs more but gives you leftovers.
3. Add your extras. Drinks, appetizers, a second dessert and disposable dishes are not in the AFBF list. They are a big reason the average person in Empower’s survey expected to spend $137.
4. Plan the thaw. A 12 to 16 pound frozen turkey needs about 3 to 4 days in the fridge, per USDA FSIS, so buy it early when deals are good.

How to pay less for Thanksgiving dinner

1. Buy a frozen turkey on sale. Frozen turkeys drove the 2025 price drop, and stores often discount them to draw shoppers. Compare the per-pound price, not the sticker.
2. Shop your pantry first. Stuffing mix, spices, flour and canned pumpkin keep well. Using what you have can cut the list.
3. Use store brands. Canned and boxed items like stuffing, cranberry sauce and pie mix are easy places to save.
4. Make it a potluck. Ask guests to bring a side, rolls or dessert. It spreads the cost and the cooking.
5. Do not overbuy. About 1 pound of turkey per person is enough, and USDA FSIS says leftovers should be eaten within 3 to 4 days or frozen.
6. Plan for it. A holiday line in your sinking funds makes November less of a shock.

How Thanksgiving fits your food budget

A holiday meal is a one-time spike on top of your normal grocery bill. If you are traveling instead of hosting, the bigger cost is often gas and lodging, which our road trip cost calculator can estimate. To see how holiday spending fits your monthly plan, try the 50/30/20 budget calculator.

See how we research every number on our method page, or browse more family life costs.