How much money is spent on Thanksgiving?

It’s hard to put a price tag on Thanksgiving—the day is about so much more than how much it costs to celebrate. It’s about being thankful, following traditions, and spending quality time with family and friends. And, of course, it usually involves the smell of turkey roasting in the oven, the sound of kids running through the house, and your first taste of pumpkin pie, even though you’re already full from dinner. 

But most parents know that there’s a dollar sign behind the holiday. Between the grocery store trips, travel, decorating, and maybe even a little shopping, Thanksgiving can become an expensive holiday.

So, how much are families (and the country as a whole) really spending on Thanksgiving? Let’s take a look.

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How much Thanksgiving food costs

The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving holiday is the meal. Every year, the American Farm Bureau Federation surveys the cost of a “classic” Thanksgiving dinner for the average American family. Their most recent numbers clocked a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people at about $58, or $5.80 per person. That includes turkey, stuffing, rolls, veggies, cranberry sauce, and pie.

The good news is that the costs of Thanksgiving dinner have been trending downward for several years. Turkey prices dropped, which gives families some breathing room at the grocery store checkout line. Still, when you look back to 2019, the overall cost of Thanksgiving dinner is almost 20% higher than it was before the pandemic, so the savings only go so far.

And if you add in any family-favorite extras like ham, mac and cheese, or a few more side dishes, the total climbs closer to $75. For anyone hosting a big group, that’s a pretty sizable chunk of the holiday budget.

💡 Greenlight tip: Thanksgiving is the perfect time to let kids in on the planning. Have them help compare prices at the store, keep track of receipts, or even set their own savings goal in the Greenlight app to cover the cost of their favorite Thanksgiving dish. 

How much it costs to travel for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday in the U.S. Last year, AAA estimated nearly 80 million people would travel 50 miles or more over the long weekend. Most Thanksgiving travelers drive, which means gas prices can have a big impact on the budget.

What if you need to fly? Airline ticket prices tend to spike around the holiday, with millions of travelers competing for limited available seats. Thanksgiving holiday prices have risen at least 10% this year, with the average price for a domestic airline ticket hovering around $751. 

This can be a trade-off for families: is it worth braving a long drive, or is flying the only way to make it home in time?

Extra Thanksgiving costs 

Beyond food and travel, there are all the little things that sneak into the holiday budget — think hosting supplies like paper goods and folding chairs or extra pie pans and serving utensils. And, of course, there’s getting an early jump on holiday shopping.

The National Retail Federation tracks Thanksgiving weekend spending and reports that nearly 200 million Americans shop between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday. On average, people spend more than $200 during these shopping events. Even if you’re not hitting the stores at midnight for Black Friday deals, chances are you’ve grabbed at least one “holiday weekend” purchase.

💡 Greenlight tip: Black Friday and Cyber Monday are perfect teachable moments. With Greenlight’s debit card for kids, parents can set category and store limits and encourage kids to consider needs vs. wants before heading into holiday sales.

How Thanksgiving affects the economy

Thanksgiving spending ripples through the whole economy. But how?

• Farmers see a surge in demand for turkeys, cranberries, and sweet potatoes. 

• Grocery stores stock up and roll out big promotions to get shoppers in the door. 

• Airlines, gas stations, and hotels hit some of their busiest days of the year. 

• Retailers count on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to jump-start the holiday shopping season.

In many ways, Thanksgiving spending sets the tone for the rest of the holiday economy. A strong Thanksgiving weekend can be a confidence boost going into December, while slower sales can make retailers nervous about the year ahead.

Thanksgiving is about more than money

Here’s the flip side. While the numbers are big and the impact is real, families know the holiday is about more than receipts and totals. It’s a time when kids learn family recipes, grandparents share stories, and simple traditions (like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade or playing touch football) become the real highlights. Those moments remind us that even if costs creep up, Thanksgiving is still about connection more than consumption.

So, how much money is spent on Thanksgiving? Well, billions nationwide, and anywhere from a few dozen dollars to a few hundred dollars on average for American families. But the holiday can’t really be measured in dollars. At the end of the day, Thanksgiving is about gratitude, and that’s something no price tag can capture.

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