Wedding planner cost calculator
Put two planner quotes on the same work, whether they charge a flat fee, a percentage, or by the hour. See the full cost of each, what the pricier package adds, and how a percentage fee moves if spending grows.
Compare two wedding planner quotes
Side by side · the same work from each planner
Quote B costs $200 less for the work you want.
| Line | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Planning fee | $3,200Flat package | $4,000Flat package |
| Assistants or staff | $450 | Covered |
| Extra on-site time | $250 | Covered |
| Rehearsal | $300 | In package |
| Travel | $0 | $0 |
| Fees and tax | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $4,200 | $4,000 |
| Full cost against Zola's overall range | In Zola's $3,200 to $4,900 | In Zola's $3,200 to $4,900 |
Keep flowers, rentals, and stationery in their own budget lines unless the planner requires them as a package. Keep any tip on its own line too. The cheaper quote is only better if both planners do the same work with the same team and hours.
Add the planner to your budgetRead the planner cost guideCompare venue quotes
Quick answer
Average wedding planner cost: $4,047, says Zola
Zola puts the national average at $4,047, and says most couples spend $3,200 to $4,900 for planning services. It also says a percentage fee is usually 10% to 20% of the budget, and hourly rates run $75 to over $200 an hour. Its ranges by service level differ between the summary and the article, so both are below. These are national figures, not local prices. Your written quotes are the numbers to compare.
| Service | Summary | Article |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service planning | $4,000 to $10,000+ | No range given |
| Partial planning | $2,500 to $6,000 | $1,500 to $6,000 |
| Day-of coordination | $1,200 to $2,500 | $800 to $3,000 |
The calculation method
One fee, then every required charge.
Planning fee + assistants or staff + extra on-site time + rehearsal + extra events + design or production + setup and breakdown + travel + required fees and tax + other extras = full cost
- The planning fee is the package price, the hourly rate times the estimated hours, or a percentage. A percentage fee is the larger of the minimum or the percentage of the cost base your contract defines.
- Rehearsal, extra events, design, and setup count only if you want them and the package leaves them out. If a package includes one you didn't ask for, the comparison lists it, so you can see what a higher price buys.
- Open lines stay open. A blank staff, travel, or tax line is never counted as $0, and neither quote is called cheaper until both are complete. Leave other extras blank if you chose none.
The starting numbers are the example from our planner cost guide. Quote A is a $3,200 package plus a required $450 assistant, $300 for rehearsal direction, and $250 of planned overtime: $4,200. Quote B is $4,000 and includes the same assistant, rehearsal, and hours, so it costs $200 less. The guide counts both before tax and travel, so the calculator starts those at $0. Replace them with your own.
A percentage example from the same guide: 12% of a $60,000 cost base is $7,200. With an $8,000 minimum, the minimum applies. Add $1,000 of required travel and the total is $9,000.
What a planner quote should list
- When the work starts, how many meetings, and which vendor searches are included.
- Who the lead planner is, how many assistants come, and who steps in if the lead can't.
- On-site start and end times, and how overtime is billed.
- Rehearsal, extra events, design, setup, and breakdown, each included or priced.
- For a percentage: the cost base, the minimum, when it is worked out, and any cap.
- Travel, rush fees, card fees, and tax.
- Retainer, payment dates, cancellation, and postponement terms.
What this leaves out
- Flowers, rentals, and stationery, unless the planner requires them as a package.
- The venue's own coordinator. Compare their written duties separately.
- A tip. Keep it on its own line, outside the quote.
Read the wedding planner cost guide or add the planner to your budget.
Questions about wedding planner cost
How much does a wedding planner cost?
Zola puts the national average at $4,047, and says most couples spend $3,200 to $4,900 for planning services. That is a national figure for scale. Your written quotes, for your date, place, and the work you want, are the numbers to compare.
How much does a day-of wedding coordinator cost?
Zola gives two ranges on the same page: $1,200 to $2,500 in its summary and $800 to $3,000 in the article. Keep both in your notes. Zola says day-of work begins about four to six weeks before the wedding, so ask when it begins and what it covers.
Do wedding planners charge a flat fee or a percentage?
Both, and some charge by the hour. Zola says a percentage is usually 10% to 20% of the budget. Under a percentage, the fee is the larger of the minimum or the percentage of the cost base the contract defines. Ask what that cost base includes, when the fee is worked out, and whether it has a cap.
How much do wedding planners charge per hour?
Zola says hourly rates run $75 to over $200 an hour. Ask for an estimate of the hours in writing, and what happens if the work takes longer.
Can I count an unlisted travel fee or tax as zero?
Not until the planner confirms it. The calculator keeps blank lines open and does not call either quote cheaper until every open line has an answer.
Should I choose the cheaper planner quote?
Only after both quotes cover the same work, team, and on-site hours, and every required charge is confirmed. Then compare who will be there on the day, what happens if they can't come, and the cancellation terms.
Method updated October 17, 2026. Zola figures checked October 17, 2026. Report a calculation problem.