How much should Christmas lunch cost per person?
- 15 Oct 2026
Christmas lunch cost per person is the number most hosts never work out until the credit card bill arrives. Then January feels a bit flat. So what is a sensible budget? This guide looks at what Australians spend and how to set your own figure. It also shows what $48 per person gets you when the whole lunch arrives cooked and prepped. You will finish with a clear number for your table.
What Australians spend on Christmas food
Last year, Finder surveyed 1,011 Australians in October. The average person planned to spend $269 on Christmas food and $215 on eating out. A separate Pureprofile report put festive food and drink at $506 per person. It also found that three in five Australians planned to spend $500 or less.
These numbers cover the whole season. They include party food, snacks and the Boxing Day spread. They are not the cost of one lunch. Still, they give you a handy ballpark when you set your own budget.
How to work out your Christmas lunch cost per person
Use this simple three step method.
1. Count your guests. Include the kids, but be realistic about who eats what.
2. Set a total budget. Divide it by your guest count to get your per person figure.
3. Split it across the courses. A handy rule of thumb is about 20 per cent for starters, 50 per cent for mains, 15 per cent for sides and 15 per cent for dessert.
At $48 per person, that is $9.60 for starters, $24 for mains, $7.20 for sides and $7.20 for dessert.
Next, check your quantities. Our stress free catering guide recommends three to four finger food pieces per person. It suggests 250 to 300g of raw meat or 200 to 250g cooked. It suggests 200g of fish or 250g of prawns, 150g of salad and 150 to 200g of pudding. Buying to those numbers stops you paying for food that never reaches the table.
What $48 per person gets you
Our Christmas lunch hampers come in at about $48 per person. You can choose a hot hamper or a cold one. Each includes entrees, mains, sides and desserts, so one order covers the whole lunch.
Everything is cooked and prepped before it reaches you. There is no shopping, no chopping and no cooking. Hampers arrive frozen, so you can keep them in the freezer until you need them. Then thaw and serve a cold hamper, or thaw and heat a hot one.
Our storing and serving guide shows how to thaw and heat every item. Here is how the hamper prices work out per person. Prices were correct when we wrote this, so check them when you order.
|
Hamper |
Serves |
Price |
Per person |
|
6 |
$289.00 |
$48.17 |
|
|
6 |
$289.00 |
$48.17 |
|
|
10 |
$479.00 |
$47.90 |
|
|
10 |
$479.00 |
$47.90 |
|
|
2 |
$78.00 |
$39.00 |
|
|
4 |
$156.00 |
$39.00 |
Smaller table or tighter budget? Our Christmas Classic 3 Course Hamper is our entry level option at just $39 per person. It comes for two or four people. You get prawns to start, a full turkey dinner with vegetables, gravy and stuffing, and sticky date pudding to finish.
Feeding a bigger crowd? Double up on hampers.
Hot or cold hamper?
Both cost the same, so choose the one that suits your day.
• Hot hamper. A traditional roast style lunch. You thaw it, heat it and serve.
• Cold hamper. A relaxed summer spread. It needs no oven, which helps on a hot Christmas Day and makes it perfect to take anywhere such as the beach or the park.
Not sure which is right for your group? Call our team on 1300 131 070 and we will help you choose.
Why a hamper is more than a price per person
A supermarket trolley can look cheaper on the receipt. But the receipt only counts ingredients. It leaves out the extras.
• Pantry items. You buy a whole jar of something for a few spoonfuls.
• Food waste. End Food Waste Australia research shows about 70 per cent of household food waste is perfectly edible, as reported by The New Daily.
• Time. Shopping, prepping and cooking a full lunch can take most of a day.
• Last minute runs. Forgotten ice, cream or bread all add up.
A hamper flips that around. The cooking is finished before it arrives. You pay for a finished three course lunch, not a bag of ingredients. It also feels more special, because you are serving a proper Christmas lunch, not a rushed one.
Five ways to lower your Christmas lunch cost per person
1. Count only the people who will eat. Hampers serve six or ten, so check your numbers first.
2. Choose one main meal star if you build your own. For a small group, pick turkey or ham, not both.
3. Order early. It locks in your delivery slot and your menu. It also gives you time to plan, which is the best way to avoid overspending.
4. Share the load. Ask guests to bring drinks or a side. Our guide to reclaiming Christmas has more ideas for delegating.
5. Cut what nobody eats. Ask your guests what they actually want. Dishes nobody touches are the easiest cost to remove.
So, is it worth ordering in?
It depends on what you value. If you want the lowest possible bill, you can cook it all yourself. If you want a three course Christmas lunch with no work, a hamper at about $48 per person gives you exactly that.
Ready to order? Browse our Christmas lunch hampers or the full Christmas menu. Check the Christmas delivery schedule, then order early to secure your slot. Questions? Call our team on 1300 131 070.
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