What is the average cost of a 2024 Christmas Dinner?

Every year, we hear "the average cost of Christmas dinner for a family or 4 (or 10) is ____" . So, what is the real cost, what does it include 2024, and how is it calculated?

We believe our calculation of the total cost of the average Christmas dinner is - by far - the most accurate.  You'll see why as we include things that are necessary, but the average newspaper journalist seems to forget.

Yahoo Finance says: "The cost of a traditional Christmas dinner for four (in 2023) is up by just 1.3% on last year to £31.71, well below overall grocery price inflation," Seems really low to us. But in 2024, we're finding that, aside from beef, almost everything else is the same price as last year! Some good news for a change!

Calculators:

See this page for the

• 2024 Christmas dinner cost calculator - accurately calculate the cost of YOU Christmas dinner and print a shopping list

 

What's in an British Christmas holiday dinner?

There are definitely regional and personal differences; not everyone likes Brussels sprouts, but who doesn't like a Yorkshire pudding?

There is more commonality. The items most commonly include in the average British Christmas dinner are Turkey, often ham, sometimes roast beef, stuffing, cranberry sauce, bone-roast potatoes, roast parsnips, eggnog, and turkey gravy.

So let's assume that the average family s going to have a small to medium turkey (10 - 14 kg) maybe also some ham. We'll put the other options and statistics in the table below along with this year's costs, but we'll total based on these 2 main dishes plus the sides. You can see exactly how much your own choice of main dishes and sides will be in our Christmas dinner cost calculator.

 

Table of dinner items and costs

Based on Tesco's December 2023 prices. You would need their "ClubCard" to get best prices. 

You can click on the images from Tesco's to see the product on the Tesco website with current pricing and the ability to order it.

Excluding alcohol. I cannot even guess how much some of you can drink...

Item		2024 Price	for 4 to 6 people	for 10 people
Turkey - 73% serve turkey; 5 kg for 4 to 6 people, 10 kgs for 10 people. Same price at Tescos as last year.		£5.13/kg	£23.52	£33.60
Roast beef roasting joint  or a Prime rib roast or steak ) (Use the Christmas dinner cost calculator to see the cost included). Beef went WAY up since 2023, from £8 to £13!		£13/kg
Gammon -  Some people like both turkey AND Gammon or ham joints. Assume 1/6 kg per person if this is in addition to the turkey, or 1/4 kg per person if served alone. (Use the Christmas dinner cost calculator to see the cost included)		£6/kg
Chicken - typically roasted whole chicken  (Use the Christmas dinner cost calculator to see the cost included)		£3/kg
Pigs in a blanket (10 in a package)		£3.50	£3.50	£7.00
Cranberry sauce - Ocean Spray whole or smooth.		£1.75	£1.75	£3.50
Stuffing (Paxo sage and onion stuffing))		£2.65	£2.65	£5.30
Gravy packet, (£3.10) with liquids from the turkey		£3.10	£3.10	£3.10
Roast parsnips or roast potatoes. Or both! Sold loose or in packages, Potatoes are slightly less expensive		£1.50	£1.50	£3.00
Yorkshire pudding, dinner scions, bread or buns £4 to £8, depending how many and which brand		£4.10	£4.00	£8.00
Brussels sprouts  - fresh stalk or frozen and peeled		£1.20	£1.20	£2.40
Carrots		£1.25	£2.50	£5.00
Christmas pudding: plus the rum or brandy! sold in 100g, 400g or 800g sizes		£5.00	£5.00	£10.00
Mince pie (4, 6 or 8 single serving pies in a package) (about £.75 per pie) Apple pie is also popular, £10 Pumpkin pie  £6 for a small one £10 for a large one		£3.00	£3.00	£6.00
Miscellaneous - there are always a few things you realize you're out of, like butter, milk, clotted cream,  a spice or you have to get something special for Aunt Karen because she is lactose, gluten AND nut-intolerant) So add in £10 for those things			£10	£15
Extras and alternatives (NOT included in the cost estimate below)
Eggnog
Appetizers: like a cheese plate, crackers, dips, chips, Swedish meatballs, etc.
			£38.20	£68.30

The bottom line:

Total for 4 - 6 people: £38.20

Total for 10 - 12 people: £68.30

You can edit the ingredients, quantity and costs with our Christmas Dinner Cost Calculator!

Give it a try! and then print the results as a shopping list!

Remember, while the inflation rate may have slowed, that only means that the rate of increase of food prices has slowed; it does not mean food prices have come down a single penny.

Recipes

You can also save money and make a MUCH better tasting dish without processed chemical, by making it yourself.  And it is so easy with our recipes. These are by far the best and easiest:

• Roast Turkey - Make a tasty, juicy turkey with these EASY, illustrated instructions! And easy clean up, too!
• Smoked turkey (How to smoke a turkey in your back yard smoker or grill)
• Gravy - how to make an easy, tasty turkey gravy
• Stuffing - also called "dressing"
• Sweet potato casserole
• Mashed potatoes
• Cranberry sauce
• Jellied cranberry sauce
• Cran-apple sauce
• Pumpkin pie from a fresh or canned pumpkin!
• Pecan pie
• Apple pie - with a crumb topping - The world's best apple pie!
• Pumpkin cheesecake - INCREDIBLE!!! You have to try this one!

 

How to get the best prices and best deal?

Can you do it for less. Sure. Here's how

Overall tips to cut costs

• Buy at Aldi, Lidl, or Costco - Their prices on these items are FAR lower; turkey's pies, etc and their quality is the best. The cost at these stores was 33% less than at Waitrose, 20% less that Sainsbury or Morrisons and still 10% less than Tescos.
• Buy generic or store brands.  They're usually made by the same companies
• Look for store specials and sales the week before the holiday.
• Sign up for digital coupons on store apps and the store's loyalty program. 
• Don't wait until the last minute - stores often run out!~

 

Turkey

In 2024, it's costing from £0.99 per pound for frozen store brand to £1.68 for frozen butterball to £3/kg for organic, fresh or just the breast.

In general, per pound, frozen turkey is the best value:

• Fresh turkey costs double a frozen turkey.
• Organic turkey costs 3 or 4 times a frozen turkey
• Turkey breasts (bone-in) costs 3 times a frozen whole turkey

Aldi and Costco usually has the best prices, in 2024, around £1.00 per pound for whole turkeys.

Many grocery stores have special low prices on turkey if you buy more than a specified amount of groceries (like £50 or £75) when you buy the turkey.

Side dishes

Get your guests to each bring one!

• Roast or mashed potatoes
• Roast parsnips
• Pigs in a blanket
• Sausages
• Stuffing

Desserts

Same, here, have a guest bring one.

• Christmas pudding,
• Mince pie
• Brandy or Port
• Clotted cream

Make your own pumpkin pie from a fresh winter squash - it is EASY - see this page, and tastes SO much better!

What do other sources say we eat for Christmas?

Statistica say the typical British Christmas dinner includes:

 

Here are the general inflation facts:

• Food prices at the grocery store are up 17% since 2021.
• In 2022, the inflation rate hit 13%. 
• In 2023, the food inflation rate was at 2.4%,