The Wedding Painters · a little perspective

    How much money should you give at a wedding?

    Most wedding guests give £50 to £100 in the UK and $100 to $150 in the US. Close family and best friends give more. Colleagues and distant relatives give less. Answer a few questions below to get an amount that fits your own situation.

    Thinking of giving a group gift or can't be there? A TheWeddingPainters gift card, from £25 or $25, lets friends and family add to one gift. TheWeddingPainters is a marketplace of hand-picked luxury wedding artists for live wedding painters, guest portrait artists and artists who paint from photos.

    Based on published sources and our own guidance, pack checked 2026-10-22. See the sources and method.

    £

    This does not change our suggestion.

    Where is the wedding?
    What is the gift for?
    Close friend
    Closer to the coupleFurther from the couple
    Will you be there?
    Who is the gift from?
    50%
    ModestGenerous
    Refine your answer
    Are you in the wedding party?
    £0
    £0£1,500

    Travel and stay costs are optional context, not a bill to pass on.

    Splitting the gift?
    1people (up to 20)

    Your first calculation is saved anonymously. How we use answers.

    How much money should you give as a wedding gift?

    A wedding gift of £50 to £100 is typical in the UK, and $100 to $150 is typical in the US. In one US survey of guests, the average gift was $150. In another, it was $130. In a UK survey of the closest guests, the average gift people said was right was £77. The list above shows a typical amount for each relationship. For more on etiquette, read our US guide to how much to spend on a wedding gift.

    What changes how much you should give?

    Your wedding gift amount depends on a few things, and the calculator takes each one into account.

    How close you are to the couple: Parents, siblings and best friends give the most. Colleagues and distant relatives give the least.

    Who the gift is from: A couple giving together usually gives more than one guest alone. One US guide suggests one and a half to two times the usual amount. If one invitation is addressed to your whole family, one gift is usually enough.

    Your role in the wedding: People in the wedding party often pay for outfits, travel and events. Many give a little less because of that.

    What you have already spent: Travel, a hotel and an outfit all add up. The calculator lets you count what you have spent.

    Other gifts: If you are also giving an engagement gift or a shower gift, you can give less at the wedding. One common rule splits your budget into 20% for the engagement, 20% for the shower and 60% for the wedding.

    How much should you give if you can't go to the wedding?

    A guest who can't go to the wedding often gives a little less than a guest who goes. If you are close to the couple, you still give something. No published survey gives an exact figure for this, so the calculator uses our own guidance, and our sources section says so. A TheWeddingPainters gift card can be scheduled to arrive on the wedding day, so the couple sees it when it counts.

    How much do evening guests give? (UK)

    In the UK, evening guests often give less than guests who go to the whole day. Many UK guides suggest about £20 to £50 for an evening guest. Choose evening only in the calculator for a UK wedding to see an amount.

    Does your wedding gift need to cover the cost of your meal?

    No. Etiquette experts say your gift does not need to cover the cost of your meal, because guests are not meant to know what a seat costs. Give what you can comfortably afford. Your being there matters most.

    What does it cost to be a wedding guest?

    In a UK survey of 2,000 people who had been to a wedding in the past five years, going to a wedding cost £348 on average. That included travel, a stay, an outfit and a gift. It was £420 in Greater London and £287 in Wales. 38% said they felt pressured to overspend. The survey was paid for by a wedding insurance seller, and people said what they remembered spending.

    That is why the calculator lets you add what you have already spent. It lowers your gift a little, but never below the modest amount.

    How should you give cash at a wedding?

    Put the cash in a card and write your name inside, so the couple knows who it came from. A short, kind note makes it feel warmer than cash alone. Do not post cash. Use a bank transfer, or a payment through the couple's registry or cash fund.

    Want to give something they will keep? A TheWeddingPainters gift card can go towards a painting made from their wedding photos. See paintings from photos in the UK or in the US.

    Can you give a group gift?

    Yes. Friends and family often add money together for one bigger gift. Each person gives about what they would have given alone. If you enter how many people are giving, the calculator shows each person's share.

    With a TheWeddingPainters group gift card, everyone can add to the same gift by email invite or shared link. The gift card can go towards a painting of the wedding day, including the artist's travel and hotel. It lasts five years, works with any artist in any country, and any balance stays on the card. For a bigger gift, add more than one card. Read more in our guide to group wedding gifts.

    How did we work out these amounts?

    We use published surveys and advice from wedding experts, and we show each one with its date. Where two sources give an amount for the same relationship, we average them. Where only one does, we use that. Where none does, we use our own guidance and say so. We checked everything on 22 October 2026 and review it every January. You can see every source in the Sources and method section below.

    Frequently asked questions

    How much money should you give at a wedding?

    Most wedding guests give £50 to £100 in the UK and $100 to $150 in the US. Close family and best friends give more, and colleagues and distant relatives give less. Use the calculator above to get an amount for your own situation.

    Is £50 enough for a wedding gift?

    In the UK, £50 is enough for most guests who are not very close to the couple. In one survey, 77% of Britons said £50 or less is right for someone less close. For a close friend or family member, many people give £50 to £100 or more.

    Is $100 enough for a wedding gift?

    In the US, $100 is enough for many guests. Most guests spend between $100 and $150, and one survey found an average of $130. For a close friend or family member, many guides suggest $150 or more.

    How much should you give if you can't go to the wedding?

    A guest who can't go to the wedding often gives a little less than a guest who goes, but still gives something if the couple is close. The calculator takes a share off if you choose not attending. This is our own guidance, because no published survey gives an exact figure. A TheWeddingPainters gift card can be scheduled to arrive on the wedding day.

    How much should a couple give as a wedding gift?

    A couple who go to a wedding together usually give more than a single guest. One US guide suggests one and a half to two times the usual amount. Choose the option for you and your partner in the calculator to see an amount.

    Should your wedding gift cover the cost of your meal?

    No. Etiquette experts say your wedding gift does not need to cover the cost of your meal, because guests are not meant to know what a seat costs. Give what you can comfortably afford.

    Is it okay to give cash as a wedding gift?

    Yes, cash is a fine wedding gift. In one US survey of guests, 40% gave cash, 50% gave a physical gift and 10% gave a gift card. Put the cash in a card with your name, so the couple knows who it came from.

    How much should you give for a bridal shower?

    A bridal shower gift is often about a third of what you would give for the wedding. One common rule splits your gift budget into 20% for the engagement, 20% for the shower and 60% for the wedding. Choose bridal shower in the calculator to see an amount.

    Keep exploring

    Where each facts comes from

    • £50 to £100 UK, $100 to $150 US: UK guides and surveys, and Zola's report that most guests spend $100 to $150.
    • $150 and $130 US averages, and 40% cash, 50% physical, 10% gift card: The Knot Guest Study and Zola's 2026 report.
    • £77, and 77% say £50 or less: One4all research and YouGov UK.
    • £348, £420, £287 and 38% pressured: Censuswide survey for The Insurance Emporium, published 27 January 2026.
    • One and a half to two times for a partner, and the 20-20-60 split: Zola's guide.
    • Cover your meal is not needed: an etiquette expert quoted in The Knot's guide.
    • Gift card terms: TheWeddingPainters gift card page.

    At a glance

    Typical amounts

    Indicative ranges from the currently published guidance pack.

    UK weddings

    Parent
    £300 typical
    Sibling
    £150 typical
    Best friend
    £77 typical
    Close friend
    £65 typical
    Aunt, uncle or cousin
    £50 typical
    Casual friend
    £37.5 typical
    Colleague
    £37.5 typical
    Distant relative
    £30 typical

    US weddings

    Parent
    $500 typical
    Sibling
    $212.5 typical
    Best friend
    $212.5 typical
    Close friend
    $187.5 typical
    Aunt, uncle or cousin
    $137.5 typical
    Casual friend
    $132.5 typical
    Colleague
    $93.75 typical
    Distant relative
    $81.25 typical

    US bridal showers

    Parent
    $166.65 typical
    Sibling
    $70.83 typical
    Best friend
    $70.83 typical
    Close friend
    $62.49 typical
    Aunt, uncle or cousin
    $45.83 typical
    Casual friend
    $44.16 typical
    Colleague
    $31.25 typical
    Distant relative
    $27.08 typical

    Sources and method

    Amounts combine published guidance and our own labelled calculation rules. They are starting points, not obligations, and are not independently verified survey results.

    We interpolate from low to typical to high using the generosity slider, then apply attendance and gift-from multipliers. Wedding-party and previous-shower adjustments apply only to wedding gifts. Attending costs reduce the suggestion at the published offset rate, never below the modest amount. We round each amount using the applicable tier, then split with whole-unit rounding upwards. Comparison benchmarks never set your suggestion.

    Published sources

    • The Knot Guest Study (US; survey). Published/updated: 2026-08-20. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not stated.

      Average guest gift of $150, and $140 for casual friends. Half of guests gave a physical gift, 40% cash, 10% a gift card.

      Caveat: The page does not state the survey year, sample size or method. Page last updated 20 August 2026.

    • The Knot suggested gift amounts (US; expert guide). Published/updated: 2026-08-20. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not applicable.

      Suggested amounts by relationship, from $250 or more for a best friend or immediate family to $50 to $100 for a distant relative.

      Caveat: Editorial advice, not a survey. The page is inconsistent on coworkers: its summary says $100 to $150, its text says $50 to $100.

    • Zola guide to what to spend as a guest (US; expert guide). Published/updated: 2026-06-05. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not applicable.

      Suggested amounts by relationship, from $75 to $100 for a coworker to $150 to $200 or more for a close friend or immediate family. Also a 20-20-60 split across engagement, shower and wedding gifts, and 1.5 to 2 times the usual gift for a plus-one.

      Caveat: Editorial advice, not a survey, from a wedding registry company. Published 2 October 2024, last updated 5 June 2026. One range covers several relationships.

    • Zola 2026 First Look Report (US; survey). Published/updated: 2026. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not stated.

      Average wedding gift spend of $130, with most guests spending $100 to $150.

      Caveat: Reported on Zola's guide page, last updated 5 June 2026. The page does not state the sample size, method or exact survey date.

    • YouGov UK (UK; survey). Published/updated: 2024-02-07. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not stated on the article page.

      What Britons say is right to spend on a wedding gift: 56% say £50 to £100 for a very close friend or relative, and 77% say £50 or less for someone less close.

      Caveat: Percentages only for those bands. Full results are in a linked PDF that we have not checked.

    • One4all Gift Cards research, reported by County Wedding (UK; survey). Published/updated: 2026-08-14. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not stated.

      The average acceptable gift from the closest guests was £77. 43% chose £50 to £100, 36% up to £50 and 5% over £200.

      Caveat: Commissioned by a gift card company. The article does not state the sample size.

    • VoucherCodes expert Anita Naik, reported by County Wedding (UK; expert guide). Published/updated: 2025-08-01. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not applicable.

      Suggested starting ranges: £25 to £50 for a distant friend or colleague, £50 to £100 for a close friend, £100 to £200 for immediate family.

      Caveat: Editorial advice, not a survey. The writer says it draws on etiquette guidance and consumer reports.

    • Bridebook guide for guests and couples (UK; expert guide). Published/updated: 2026-09-16. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not applicable.

      Calls £40 to £100 fairly typical for a wedding gift.

      Caveat: Editorial advice, not a survey. One range for all guests, with no split by relationship.

    • Prezola wedding gift list data (UK; company data). Published/updated: 2024. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: not stated (thousands of couples' gift lists).

      Average cash gift of £102 in 2024, up from £79 in 2020.

      Caveat: Prezola's own analysis of gifts given to couples who use its gift lists. Not split by relationship.

    • Censuswide survey for The Insurance Emporium (UK; survey). Published/updated: 2026-01-27. Pack checked: 2026-10-22. Sample: 2,000 UK adults who attended a wedding in the past five years.

      Average total cost of attending a wedding, with travel, stay, outfit and gift, of £348. £420 in Greater London and £287 in Wales. 38% felt pressured to overspend.

      Caveat: Fieldwork 10 to 14 November 2025. Commissioned by a wedding insurance seller. Based on what people recall spending.

    How each amount uses its sources

    UK wedding: Parent — guidance (draft guidance)

    Our guidance. Parents often give more than other guests. This sits above the published immediate-family range, so it needs a source.

    UK wedding: Sibling — single source

    Middle of VoucherCodes' £100 to £200 range for immediate family. The high end is ours.

    UK wedding: Best friend — single source

    One4all research: the average acceptable gift from the closest guests was £77. Low and high ends are ours, close to the £50 to £100 band most people chose.

    UK wedding: Close friend — guidance

    Our guidance, set between the £77 closest-guest average and the casual-friend amount. It sits inside the £50 to £100 range that VoucherCodes gives for a close friend and that most people chose in the YouGov survey.

    UK wedding: Aunt, uncle or cousin — guidance (draft guidance)

    Our guidance. No published figure for aunts, uncles or cousins. It sits inside Bridebook's general £40 to £100.

    UK wedding: Casual friend — single source

    Middle of VoucherCodes' £25 to £50 range for a distant friend. YouGov: 77% say £50 or less for someone less close.

    UK wedding: Colleague — single source

    Middle of VoucherCodes' £25 to £50 range for a colleague. The low end is ours. YouGov: 77% say £50 or less for someone less close.

    UK wedding: Distant relative — guidance (draft guidance)

    Our guidance, a little below the distant-friend amount. No published figure for distant relatives. YouGov: 77% say £50 or less for someone less close.

    US wedding: Parent — guidance (draft guidance)

    Our guidance. Parents often give more than other guests. This sits above the published immediate-family amounts, so it needs a source.

    US wedding: Sibling — average

    Average of The Knot's suggested $250 and the middle of Zola's $150 to $200 range. Both sources cover best friends and immediate family together. Low and high ends are ours.

    US wedding: Best friend — average

    Average of The Knot's suggested $250 and the middle of Zola's $150 to $200 range. Both sources cover best friends and immediate family together. Low and high ends are ours.

    US wedding: Close friend — average

    Average of The Knot's suggested $200 for a close friend and the middle of Zola's $150 to $200 range. High end is the top of The Knot's range.

    US wedding: Aunt, uncle or cousin — average

    Average of The Knot's suggested $150 for extended family and the middle of Zola's $100 to $150 range for a friend or relative. High end is ours.

    US wedding: Casual friend — average

    Average of The Knot Guest Study's $140 for casual friends (a survey) and the middle of Zola's $100 to $150 range for a friend or relative (advice). Low and high ends are ours.

    US wedding: Colleague — average

    Average of The Knot's suggested $100 for an acquaintance or coworker and the middle of Zola's $75 to $100 range. The Knot's text says $50 to $100 but its summary says $100 to $150, so we used the suggested amount. Low and high ends are ours.

    US wedding: Distant relative — average

    Average of The Knot's suggested $75 for a distant relative and the middle of Zola's $75 to $100 range. Low and high ends are from The Knot's range.

    US shower: Parent — guidance (draft guidance)

    One third of the wedding amount, using the same 20-20-60 split. The wedding amount for this stop is our own guidance.

    US shower: Sibling — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    US shower: Best friend — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    US shower: Close friend — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    US shower: Aunt, uncle or cousin — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    US shower: Casual friend — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    US shower: Colleague — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    US shower: Distant relative — derived

    One third of the wedding amount, from Zola's 20-20-60 split (20% shower, 60% wedding).

    Adjustments: published anchors and editorial choices

    • UK attending / whole day: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • UK attending / not attending: multiplier 0.6. Our guidance. A smaller gift is common if you cannot go. No published figure found. (editorial, draft)
    • UK gift from / me: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • UK gift from / me and partner: multiplier 1.5. Our guidance. US advice from Zola is 1.5 to 2 times the usual gift for a plus-one. We found no UK figure. (editorial, draft)
    • UK gift from / family: multiplier 2.0. Our guidance. The Knot says a family on one invitation might spend $150 to over $200, depending on travel. (editorial, draft)
    • UK role / guest: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • UK role / wedding party: multiplier 0.8. Our guidance. Wedding party members often pay for outfits, travel and events. (editorial, draft)
    • UK costs taken on / offset rate: rule 0.2. Our guidance. Each 100 spent getting there takes 20 off the suggested gift. (editorial, draft)
    • UK costs taken on / floor: rule low. The suggested gift never drops below the modest amount. (editorial, draft)
    • UK rounding / up to 250: round to 5. Round to the nearest 5 up to 250. (editorial)
    • UK rounding / up to 1000: round to 25. Round to the nearest 25 up to 1,000. (editorial)
    • UK rounding / above 1000: round to 50. Round to the nearest 50 above 1,000. (editorial)
    • UK split / max people: limit 20. Most people a gift can be split between. (editorial)
    • US attending / whole day: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • US attending / not attending: multiplier 0.6. Our guidance. A smaller gift is common if you cannot go. No published figure found. (editorial, draft)
    • US gift from / me: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • US gift from / me and partner: multiplier 1.5. Zola says to give 1.5 to 2 times the usual gift for a plus-one. We use the low end. (anchored) Zola guide to what to spend as a guest
    • US gift from / family: multiplier 2.0. Our guidance. The Knot says a family on one invitation might spend $150 to over $200, depending on travel. (editorial, draft)
    • US role / guest: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • US role / wedding party: multiplier 0.8. Our guidance. Wedding party members often pay for outfits, travel and events. (editorial, draft)
    • US costs taken on / offset rate: rule 0.2. Our guidance. Each 100 spent getting there takes 20 off the suggested gift. (editorial, draft)
    • US costs taken on / floor: rule low. The suggested gift never drops below the modest amount. (editorial, draft)
    • US rounding / up to 250: round to 5. Round to the nearest 5 up to 250. (editorial)
    • US rounding / up to 1000: round to 25. Round to the nearest 25 up to 1,000. (editorial)
    • US rounding / above 1000: round to 50. Round to the nearest 50 above 1,000. (editorial)
    • US split / max people: limit 20. Most people a gift can be split between. (editorial)
    • UK attending / evening only: multiplier 0.7. Our guidance. Prezola says day guests spend a little more than evening guests but gives no figure. (editorial, draft)
    • US attending / evening only: hide option . Evening-only guests are a UK habit, so the option is hidden. (editorial)
    • US shower given / no: multiplier 1.0. Baseline. (editorial)
    • US shower given / yes: multiplier 0.7. The Knot says to spend less on the wedding gift if you also gave a shower gift. The 0.7 is ours. (anchored, draft) The Knot suggested gift amounts

    For comparison only

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