Office holiday party budget calculator

What an NYC office holiday party costs

Tagvenue's 2026 NYC numbers put a holiday party at $65 to $200 per person. Where you hold it moves that most: bars run about $30 to $70 per person, restaurants $50 to $100 (private dining averages about $65), and cocktail parties $55 to $105. Catering alone is $65 to $130 per person for a client-facing event and $85 to $225 or more for a large company holiday party, according to ZeroCater, before an 18 to 22% service charge and 8.875% sales tax.

Nationally, ezCater's 2025 survey found companies spent an average of $59 per employee on holiday party food and drink, up 31% from 2024, and about half of decision makers planned to raise their budgets. Nav's rule of thumb is $75 to $200 per employee all in.

Where the budget goes further

• Meet the minimum on food, not fees.If the venue has a food and drink minimum, a richer menu often costs the same as paying the shortfall.
• Beer and wine plus one signature cocktail.On the price list above, a full bar is $10 more per guest per hour than beer and wine. Over three hours for 75 guests that is $2,250 before service and tax.
• Shorten the bar, not the party.Close the bar 30 minutes before the last song. People keep dancing.
• One vendor for sound, mics and music.DJ DX's packages include the speech mics and the PA for toasts and awards, so there is no separate AV rental for a standard room.
• Ask the team what they want to hear.The free office party music poll gives you a crowd report in a day, so the music lands for the people who are actually there.

Questions planners ask