Invitation-count planner
Work out how many invitations to send to reach your target guest count, based on an expected acceptance rate.
Result
Invitations to send
How to use this calculator
- Enter your target number of guests.
- Set an expected acceptance rate — this varies by event type and how well you know your invitees.
- Read how many invitations to send.
Assumptions
- A single flat acceptance rate applied to everyone — in practice, some invitee groups (close family) accept at a higher rate than others (distant acquaintances).
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Target number of guests
targetGuests - The number of guests you're actually aiming to have attend.
- Expected acceptance rate
acceptanceRate - Expected percentage of invitees who will accept and attend — a close-knit guest list (family, close friends) often has a higher rate than a large or more casual one.
Methodology
Invitations to send = target guests ÷ acceptance rate × 100, rounded up.
Worked example
100 target guests, 70% acceptance
Inputs: targetGuests=100, acceptanceRate=70
Result: 143 invitations
Practical guidance
- For a wedding, a well-known guest list often sees 75–85% acceptance; a large, more casual event might see 50–70%.
Common mistakes
- Sending exactly the target number of invitations, which almost always results in fewer guests than hoped once declines are accounted for.
FAQs
How many invitations should I send for 100 guests?
At a 70% expected acceptance rate, 143 invitations.