RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator
Fill in the values and the answer updates as you type.
How the RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator works
Confirmed guests = households saying yes × the average guests per yes reply. For households that have not answered, the forecast adds silent households × the share likely to attend × the average guests. Add the two for the expected guests, then add a 5% buffer for the count you give the caterer. A good estimate of the share of silent households comes from past events of your own, and a lower number is safer when a seat or plate costs a lot. Call or message the silent households as the deadline gets close, and the forecast will sharpen as replies come in. Example: with Invitations sent (households) 120, Average guests per yes reply 1.8, Households that have replied 90, Of those, households saying yes 72, and Share of silent households likely to attend 25 %, the result is Expected guests = 143.1; Confirmed guests so far = 129.6; Households still silent = 30.
Inputs and results
The RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator takes 5 inputs and gives 7 results.
What you enter
- Invitations sent (households) — starts at 120.
- Average guests per yes reply — starts at 1.8.
- Households that have replied — starts at 90.
- Of those, households saying yes — starts at 72.
- Share of silent households likely to attend (%) — starts at 25.
What you get
- Expected guests
- Confirmed guests so far
- Households still silent
- Guests expected from silent households
- Count to give the caterer (5% buffer)
- Reply rate
- Share of replies saying yes
Example: RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator with the starting values
With invitations sent (households) 120, average guests per yes reply 1.8, households that have replied 90, of those, households saying yes 72 and share of silent households likely to attend 25 %, the calculator returns:
| Expected guests | 143.1 |
|---|---|
| Confirmed guests so far | 129.6 |
| Households still silent | 30 |
| Guests expected from silent households | 13.5 |
| Count to give the caterer (5% buffer) | 151 |
| Reply rate | 75% |
| Share of replies saying yes | 80% |
Change any value above and the results update straight away.
RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator FAQ
How do I use the RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator?
Enter invitations sent (households), average guests per yes reply, households that have replied and of those, households saying yes in the fields, then read expected guests, confirmed guests so far, households still silent and guests expected from silent households in the result panel. The answer updates as you type, and you can press Calculate or Enter to refresh it. Use “Copy link” to share your exact numbers with someone else.
What does the RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator calculate?
Expected attendance from replies so far and the silent invitations. It returns expected guests, confirmed guests so far, households still silent and guests expected from silent households from the 5 values you provide.
What values does the RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator start with?
It opens with invitations sent (households) 120, average guests per yes reply 1.8, households that have replied 90 and of those, households saying yes 72 so you can see a working result straight away. Replace them with your own numbers, or press Reset to return to these starting values.
Is the RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to or stored on our servers. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Can I rely on the RSVP Headcount Forecast Calculator for important decisions?
Treat the result as a well-rounded estimate. Real situations often have details a general calculator cannot know, so confirm important decisions with a qualified professional. See the Disclaimer for more.