What share of invited guests usually comes?

As a starting point: about 78% for birthdays, 82% for weddings, 72% for BBQs, 68% for casual get-togethers and 65% for office parties — adjusted for how early you invite.

As a quarter in the low estimate, half in the likely one and three quarters in the high one.

Which number should I cater for?

The high estimate. Running short on food is worse than leftovers; tables and seats can follow the likely number.

Calculator

RSVP Estimator: How Many Guests Will Actually Come?

Enter how many people you invited, the kind of event and how far ahead you invite. Add the yes, maybe and no answers you already have, and get a realistic range of guests.

RSVP Estimator

Estimate how many guests will attend your event.

Guests Invited*

Confirmed

Maybe

Declined

Lead Time

1 Week2 Weeks4 Weeks6+ Weeks

Estimated Responses

Expected attendees18–23🛒 23

Likely declines6

No response4

Attendance rate60%–77%

Estimates based on typical attendance rates. Create a real Venuva event to track actual RSVPs.

Track RSVPs for real

How the estimate works

Each event type starts from a typical attendance rate: birthday 78%, wedding 82%, office party 65%, BBQ 72%, casual get-together 68%. The lead time shifts it — a wedding announced only one week ahead loses 15 points, a birthday 8. Some people never answer: the calculator expects 16% silence with one week's notice and 8% with six weeks. The result is a low, likely and high number of guests.

Answers you already have count first

Confirmed yeses always count. Maybes count as 25%, 50% and 75% in the low, likely and high estimate, and declines never come back. The more answers you have, the narrower the range gets.

Examples

40 invited to a birthday, two weeks ahead: 24 to 31 guests, most likely 27. 60 invited to an office party, one week ahead: 24 to 36, most likely 30. 100 invited to a wedding, six weeks ahead: 68 to 83, most likely 75. The same birthday with 18 yes, 6 maybe and 4 no so far: 27 to 32 guests.

Plan food with the high number

Buy food and drinks for the high estimate and seat the likely one. Then turn the estimate into real answers: create a free Venuva party, share one link and see yes, maybe and no come in live.

Create a party

FAQ

What share of invited guests usually comes?: As a starting point: about 78% for birthdays, 82% for weddings, 72% for BBQs, 68% for casual get-togethers and 65% for office parties — adjusted for how early you invite.
How do maybes count?: As a quarter in the low estimate, half in the likely one and three quarters in the high one.
Which number should I cater for?: The high estimate. Running short on food is worse than leftovers; tables and seats can follow the likely number.

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