Event Planner Quote Calculator
Estimate event planner fees based on event type, guest count, complexity, and planning level needed.
Estimated Planner Fee
20.0% of your $50,000 budget
100
Est. Hours
$100
Hourly Rate
$100
Per Guest
Partial Planning
Manages specific aspects + day-of
Industry Rule of Thumb
Full-service planners typically charge 10-15% of the total event budget. Day-of coordinators usually charge a flat fee of $1,500-$3,500 or 2-3% of budget.
How to Use This Calculator
Select your event type - corporate, wedding, product launch, gala, trade show, or conference.
Enter your expected guest count and total event budget to establish the baseline.
Choose the event complexity level from simple to luxury, which affects planner time and expertise needed.
Select your planning level: day-of coordination, partial planning, or full-service planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an event planner typically charge?
Event planner fees vary widely: day-of coordinators charge $800-$2,500 or 2-3% of budget, partial planners charge 5-8% of budget, and full-service planners charge 10-20% of total event budget. For a $50,000 event, expect to pay $5,000-$10,000 for full-service planning.
What is the difference between a day-of coordinator and full-service planner?
A day-of coordinator takes over 4-6 weeks before the event to manage logistics and run the event day. A full-service planner handles everything from concept to completion: venue selection, vendor hiring, design, budgeting, contracts, and day-of coordination. The price difference reflects the significantly more hours involved.
How do event planners calculate their fees?
Most planners use one of three models: percentage of budget (most common for large events), flat fee (common for corporate events with defined scope), or hourly rate ($50-$200/hour depending on experience). Many use a hybrid - flat fee with percentage for budget overruns.
What affects event planner pricing the most?
Key factors include: event complexity (simple venue rental vs elaborate multi-day production), guest count (more guests = more coordination), planning level (day-of vs full-service), event type (weddings often cost more than corporate), and geographic location (NYC/LA planners cost more than other markets).
Should I hire an event planner or do it myself?
Hire a planner if: your event has 75+ guests, involves multiple vendors, you have limited time, or the stakes are high. Planners save money through vendor relationships, avoid costly mistakes, and reduce stress. Self-planning works for simple events with few moving parts and flexible timelines.
How far in advance should I book an event planner?
Book 12-18 months ahead for weddings and large galas, 6-12 months for corporate conferences, and 3-6 months for smaller corporate events. Day-of coordinators can sometimes be booked 4-8 weeks out. Popular planners book up quickly, especially for peak seasons.
What services should be included in event planning fees?
Full-service planning typically includes: budget creation and management, venue sourcing, vendor selection and negotiation, design concept, timeline and logistics planning, RSVP management, day-of coordination, and post-event wrap-up. Confirm exactly what's included before signing.
Why Use This Calculator
- Get realistic event planner pricing instantly
- Understand the percentage-of-budget pricing model
- Compare day-of coordinator vs full-service planning costs
- See how event complexity affects pricing
- Calculate cost per guest for easy comparison
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"We used the catering calculator for our product launch. The per-guest estimates were spot-on with actual costs."
Brand Manager, Consumer Goods