How Many Party Favors Per Guest? Goody Bag Guide

Q: How many goody bags do I need for 20 kids?

Prepare 22 goody bags for 20 children - one each plus a 10% buffer for siblings and last-minute guests. If the children are under 8, fill each bag with 3-5 small items; older children need only one or two.

Q: What is a good budget for party favors?

Plan $2-5 per child, with $3 the most common spend. A 20-child party therefore costs $60 on average. You can hit the lower end by buying fillers in bulk and using one hero item per bag instead of several mid-priced toys.

By the Jofete Team · Last updated: September 24, 2026 · 5 min read

How Many Party Favors Per Guest? (Goody Bag Quantity Guide)

Quick answer: Give 1–2 favors per guest for young children and 1 favor per guest for ages 8 and up. Budget $2–5 per child, so a 20-child party costs $40–100. Always buy 10% extra for siblings and last-minute guests.

Key takeaways

1–2 favors per guest for under-8s, 1 per guest for older kids.
Budget $2–5 per child — $40–100 for 20 guests.
Buy 10% extra for siblings and surprise guests.
Hand out goody bags at the end of the party, not the start.

How many party favors do I need per guest?

Plan 1–2 favors per guest. Children aged 3–7 expect a small bag with 3–5 items, while guests aged 8 and over are happy with a single quality favor. A good rule is one “hero” item plus two or three small fillers per child.

Ages 3–7: 1 bag with 3–5 small items
Ages 8–12: 1 main favor plus 1–2 small items
Teens and adults: 1 favor each, often edible

What is a realistic party favor budget per guest?

Budget $2–5 per guest. At $2 you are buying stickers, bubbles and sweets; at $5 you can include a small toy, a book or a craft kit. Most parents land around $3 per child, which keeps a 20-child party at about $60.

How many favors do I need for different guest counts?

Use this table for a children’s party at $3 per child. Counts include the 10% buffer.

Guests	Bags	Items per bag	Total items	Budget at $3/guest
10	11	3–5	33–55	$30–50
15	17	3–5	51–85	$45–75
20	22	3–5	66–110	$60–100
30	33	3–5	99–165	$90–150

What should go inside a goody bag?

Choose items that survive the trip home and do not need supervision. The most popular fillers are stickers, bubbles, mini colouring books, crayons, temporary tattoos, hair clips and wrapped sweets.

One hero item: a small toy, book or craft kit worth $2–3.
Two or three fillers: stickers, bubbles, crayons or tattoos.
One edible treat: a wrapped sweet, cookie or small chocolate.
Avoid: loose glitter, tiny parts for under-3s, and anything noisy or messy.

When should I hand out the goody bags?

Hand them out at the end of the party, ideally in the last 15 minutes as guests leave. Giving them out early means children open the bags immediately, lose the contents during play, and often ask for a second one before the party is over.

How much extra should I buy?

Buy 10% extra bags and favors. Siblings turn up uninvited, one or two extra children appear at drop-off, and items get dropped or broken. For a 20-guest party, prepare 22 bags and keep the spares in a cupboard for the next event.

Frequently asked questions

How many goody bags do I need for 20 kids?

Prepare 22 goody bags for 20 children — one each plus a 10% buffer for siblings and last-minute guests. If the children are under 8, fill each bag with 3–5 small items; older children need only one or two.

What is a good budget for party favors?

Plan $2–5 per child, with $3 the most common spend. A 20-child party therefore costs $60 on average. You can hit the lower end by buying fillers in bulk and using one hero item per bag instead of several mid-priced toys.

Are party favors necessary?

No, but guests under 10 notice their absence. If you want to skip them, replace the goody bag with a single take-home item such as a slice of cake in a box, a photo from the party, or a craft the children make during the event.

Shop favors: browse our cards & gifts for goody bag fillers and small gifts, or see our party supplies range for the rest of the party.

Written by the Jofete Team — our party planning specialists have styled hundreds of birthdays, baby showers and weddings. We test every quantity guide against real events so the numbers you read here are the ones we actually use. Last updated: September 24, 2026.