Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and the holiday table is getting more expensive again, though not by as much as many hosts feared. The short answer is that Thanksgiving dinner in 2026 costs roughly $90 for the average family, according to a forecast from the consulting firm PwC shared with ABC News in mid-October. A second study from Self Financial puts a full meal for 10 people at $137.93, down 17.3 percent from 2025. A third benchmark, the American Farm Bureau Federation classic dinner, cost $55.18 for 10 people in 2025, and its 2026 survey lands in mid-November. The three numbers measure different things, which is why they look so far apart, and this guide explains each one so you can budget with the figure that matches your table.
The Short Answer: What Thanksgiving Dinner Costs in 2026
If you want one number for planning, use $90 for a family meal, and $130 to $140 if you are feeding 10 people a full spread with all the trimmings. The PwC forecast of about $90, up from $88 in 2025, covers what the firm calls the average American family. It does not publish the exact headcount behind that figure, so treat it as a typical family dinner rather than a per-person rate. Self Financial, by contrast, prices a fixed list of ingredients for exactly 10 people and arrives at $137.93, or about $13.79 per person. The Farm Bureau number is the cheapest of the three because it prices a bare-bones classic menu, store-brand style, with no drinks, no appetizers, and no extras.
| Estimate | Serves | Total | Per Person | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PwC forecast, October 2026 | Average family | About $90 | Not stated | Typical family Thanksgiving meal |
| Self Financial study, 2026 update | 10 people | $137.93 | About $13.79 | Full ingredient list, turkey and all the trimmings |
| American Farm Bureau, 2025 survey | 10 people | $55.18 | About $5.52 | Classic bare-bones menu, no extras |
The practical takeaway is that a realistic 2026 budget for 10 guests sits between $90 and $140, depending on how many dishes you serve and whether you buy name brands. A host who keeps the menu classic and shops sales can land near the low end. A host who adds appetizers, drinks, and premium items will land above the high end.
Item by Item: Where Prices Moved in 2026
The headline barely moved, but underneath it the prices moved in opposite directions. PwC expects turkey to cost nearly 8 percent more than a year ago, and cranberries nearly 15 percent more, with tight supplies of whole birds behind the turkey increase. On the other side, butter is projected down 10 percent and cream down 6 percent, which helps offset the increases. Federal data points the same way on turkey, with the category that includes turkey up 8.4 percent in September from a year earlier.
Self Financial tells a different story on turkey, and it is worth knowing why. Its study tracks a fixed ingredient list and found the turkey to serve 10 people cost $29.60 in 2026, down 48.1 percent from $57 in 2025. Mashed potatoes fell 48 percent to $6.90, and cranberry sauce fell 60.2 percent to $2.11. Six dishes got pricier in its study, including stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, bread rolls, salad, and pecan pie. The two studies disagree on turkey because they measure different things at different times: PwC is a forecast of what shoppers will pay at retail, while Self prices a specific basket of ingredients. The safe move is to budget $30 to $35 for the bird and treat anything less as a win.
| Item (Self Financial, serves 10) | 2026 Cost | Change From 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | $29.60 | Down 48.1 percent |
| Mashed potatoes | $6.90 | Down 48 percent |
| Cranberry sauce | $2.11 | Down 60.2 percent |
| Stuffing | Higher in 2026 | Up from 2025 |
| Sweet potato casserole | Higher in 2026 | Up from 2025 |
| Pecan pie | Higher in 2026 | Up from 2025 |
What Drives Your Total Up or Down
Guest count is the biggest lever. A good rule is about 1 pound of turkey per guest, so a 10-person table needs roughly a 10-pound bird at minimum, and most hosts buy larger to guarantee leftovers. Every extra side dish adds ingredients, prep time, and cost, which is why a 12-dish table costs far more than a classic 8-dish one. Drinks are the quiet budget breaker: the classic surveys price no alcohol, no soda, and no coffee, so a host who serves wine or a signature cocktail should add $20 to $40 on top of the food total. Store brands are the easiest saving, often 20 to 30 percent cheaper than name brands for stuffing mix, broth, and canned vegetables, with no difference most guests will notice.
Thanksgiving Costs Over Time
The long view puts 2026 in perspective. Self Financial traces the same meal for 10 people back to 1960, when it cost just $15.63. By 2026 that figure has risen 782.3 percent to $137.93, which sounds dramatic until it is spread over 66 years of general inflation, rising food standards, and larger portions. The more useful comparison is recent: the Self meal fell 17.3 percent from $166.69 in 2025 to $137.93 in 2026, the first meaningful drop in years, driven mostly by cheaper turkey, potatoes, and cranberry sauce. The Farm Bureau classic meal tells a steadier story, hovering in the $50 to $60 range for 10 people in recent years. The lesson for hosts is that Thanksgiving costs move in both directions, and a single year of relief does not guarantee the next one, which is why shopping sales matters more than any forecast.
How to Cut the Thanksgiving Bill
- Count chairs before writing the list. Plan for the guests who are actually coming, not the guests who might come. One unneeded dish is $5 to $15 wasted.
- Make it a potluck. Ask guests to bring specific dishes, one starch, one vegetable, one dessert, so the host is not funding the whole table alone.
- Buy the turkey early. Frozen turkeys go on sale in early November, and the best prices usually appear two to three weeks before the holiday, not the week of it.
- Skip the dishes nobody eats. If the cranberry sauce comes back untouched every year, drop it or buy the smallest can.
- Use what you already have. Butter, flour, sugar, and spices sitting in the pantry do not need to be bought again.
- Plan the leftovers. Turkey sandwiches, soup, and casserole stretch the meal into several more low-cost dinners, which lowers the real cost per meal.
The Farm Bureau Survey: The Number to Watch in November
The American Farm Bureau Federation has priced the same classic Thanksgiving dinner every year since 1986, which makes it the best long-run comparison available. Its 2025 survey, released November 19, 2025, put the classic meal at $55.18 for 10 people, or about $5.52 per person. The 2026 survey lands in mid-November, and this guide will be refreshed when it does, because it gives the cleanest year-over-year read on the classic menu. Until then, the PwC forecast and the Self Financial study are the freshest 2026 numbers available.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Thanksgiving dinner cost in 2026?
About $90 for the average family according to PwC, and $137.93 for 10 people according to Self Financial. A bare-bones classic menu cost $55.18 for 10 in the 2025 Farm Bureau survey. A realistic budget for 10 guests in 2026 is $90 to $140, depending on the menu.
Why do the estimates differ so much?
They measure different baskets. PwC forecasts what a typical family will spend. Self Financial prices a fixed ingredient list for 10 people. The Farm Bureau prices the cheapest classic version of the meal. None of them is wrong, they just answer different questions.
How much turkey do I need per person?
Plan on about 1 pound of turkey per guest, and buy a little larger if you want leftovers. For 10 guests, a 12 to 14 pound bird is a comfortable choice.
When is Thanksgiving in 2026?
Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, the fourth Thursday of November.
Will the 2026 Farm Bureau number change this guide?
Yes, in a good way. When the 2026 survey lands in mid-November, it will give a direct comparison with the $55.18 classic meal from 2025, and the figures here will be updated with it.
