Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner 2026
A classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 costs about $55 in 2026 — roughly $5.52 a person — based on the latest American Farm Bureau Federation survey.[1] That's the cheapest the holiday meal has been in years, down about 14% from the 2022 record, thanks mostly to falling turkey prices. Here's the full trend, where the money goes, and how to shave the bill down further. More in our Personal Finance Statistics Hub →
Thanksgiving dinner cost, year by year
The Farm Bureau has priced the same basket of 10 classic Thanksgiving items every year since 1986. After spiking during the 2021–2022 inflation surge, the cost has eased for two straight years:[1]
American Farm Bureau Federation annual Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner survey (classic meal for 10). The official 2026 survey is released in mid-to-late November; the $55.18 figure is the most recent available and the best current estimate until then.[1] For context, the meal ran about $48–$49 just before the pandemic, so it remains elevated.
Where the money goes
The turkey alone is roughly 40% of the whole bill. Here's how a classic dinner for 10 breaks down:[1]
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| 16-lb turkey | $21.50 |
| Stuffing, rolls & misc. ingredients | $11.00 |
| Pie crust & pumpkin pie mix | $6.50 |
| Sweet potatoes, potatoes & veggies | $6.00 |
| Dairy (milk, whipping cream, butter) | $5.50 |
| Cranberries, relish tray & extras | $4.68 |
| Total (classic, 10 people) | $55.18 |
Line items are approximate and rounded to illustrate the breakdown; the $55.18 total is the official AFBF figure. An expanded menu that adds ham, russet potatoes, and green beans runs about $77.09.[1]
Cheapest and priciest regions
| Region | Classic dinner for 10 |
|---|---|
| South | ~$50.01 (cheapest) |
| Midwest | ~$54 |
| Northeast | ~$57 |
| West | ~$61.75 (priciest) |
AFBF regional breakdown; Midwest and Northeast figures are approximate midpoints between the published South and West extremes.
📊 Key insight
Thanksgiving dinner is actually one of the better deals in the grocery store right now — about $5.52 a head to feed a table of 10. The sticker shock people feel comes from everything around the meal: travel, extra guests, and the creep from a "classic" dinner to an expanded spread with ham and more sides, which pushes the cost past $77. Plan the menu you'll actually serve, and the bird-and-sides core stays cheap.
How to spend less on Thanksgiving dinner
- Grab a frozen turkey early. Many grocery chains sell turkeys at or below cost (or free with a minimum spend) in the two weeks before the holiday — it's a loss leader to get you in the door.
- Go potluck. Asking each guest to bring one dish can cut the host's cost by half.
- Use store brands for sides and make dishes from scratch instead of buying pre-made.
- Stack a grocery-rewards or cash-back card and any store loyalty deals.
- Buy shelf-stable items on sale now and fresh items the week of.
Keep the holidays from blowing your budget
Food, travel, and gifts stack up fast in November and December. A budgeting app keeps the whole season in check.
Best Budgeting Apps → Average Grocery BillFrequently Asked Questions
About $55 for a classic dinner for 10 (~$5.52 per person), per the latest AFBF survey. The official 2026 figure is released in mid-to-late November; this is the most recent available number.
The turkey — about $21.50 for a 16-pound bird ($1.34/lb), roughly 40% of the classic-dinner cost.
Yes — it's fallen two years running from the 2022 peak of $64.05 to about $55, mostly on lower turkey prices, though still above the pre-pandemic ~$48–$49.
The South, at about $50 for 10, versus about $62 in the West.
Buy a frozen turkey early on a store deal, go potluck, use store brands, cook from scratch, and stack a cash-back or grocery-rewards card.
Sources
- American Farm Bureau Federation — Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner survey (classic meal for 10, annual; latest release and historical figures).