What the meal budget calculator estimates
Enter the number of adults and children in your group, a realistic meal estimate for each, and any expected drink or dessert spending per diner. Add a percentage service charge if appropriate. The tool calculates the total cost, the average per diner and how far you are above or below your chosen budget per person.
This is a plan, not a quote. The example values shown in the form are editable teaching inputs and are not current prices for any restaurant. Replace them with details from your chosen official menu or checkout.
A worked example
Suppose two adults each plan to spend £12 on a main and one child plans to spend £7. If each of the three diners also has a £2 drink, the estimate is £37 before dessert or service charge: £24 plus £7 plus £6. With a £20-per-person limit, the group has a £60 total allowance, leaving £23. These numbers are hypothetical.
What is and is not included
Adult and child meal estimates are separate. Drink and dessert amounts apply to every diner. The service percentage is calculated on those items. Delivery fees, discounts or complex meal deals are not modelled in this tool; enter any applicable extras in a suitable meal amount or use the family cost calculator for a separate fee line.
For a better result, choose a specific restaurant, check actual product sizes and include only the food you intend to purchase. A larger quantity is not necessarily better value if the food will go unused.
Frequently asked questions
Are the default values real restaurant prices?
No. They are illustrative inputs. Replace them with verified quotes from your selected restaurant.
How is the per-person total calculated?
The full estimated total including service is divided by the number of diners.
Does it save my inputs?
No. Calculations happen locally in this browser tab and are not submitted to our servers.