How Much Money Should You Take on a Stag Do?
The honest answer is “more than you think, but less than the group WhatsApp will guess.” Here's how to work out a realistic number instead of pulling one out of thin air.
The free tool
💷 Stag Kitty Calculator
Work out exactly how much to pool for drinks, food and taxis — by city and drinking style. No email, instant answer.
Try it free →Split it into the kitty and your own money
There are two pots on any stag: the shared kitty (rounds, taxis, entry, the groom's drinks) and your personal spending money (your own food, extra drinks, the 3am kebab). Confusing the two is why people feel skint halfway through — they spend their personal money on group stuff and then have nothing left.
Agree the kitty per head up front, collect it, and treat your spending money as separate on top. The calculator below does the kitty maths for you, including covering the groom.
A realistic per-day figure
For a typical UK weekend, budget roughly £80–£150 a day all-in once you count drinks, food and transport — more in London or on a big night out, less for a chilled countryside one. A two-night trip therefore lands most groups between £200 and £400 per person before the headline activity.
Take a chunk as cash for the places that are card-shy or cash-only (taxis, some bars, the kebab van), and keep the rest on card. Running entirely on card is how people lose track and overspend.
The costs people forget
Booking fees, airport or venue transfers, covering the groom's share, tips and service charges, and a contingency for the surprises — these quietly add 20–30% to a naive budget. Build them in and you won't need an awkward top-up ask later.
Frequently asked
How much spending money for a 2-night stag do?＋
Most people are comfortable with £150–£300 of personal spending money for two nights, on top of whatever's been collected for the kitty and the main activity. Adjust up for a big city or a heavy night, down for a quiet cottage weekend.
Should I take cash or card?＋
Both. Keep a cash float for taxis, cash-only bars and late-night food, and card for everything else. Cash also helps you physically see what you've got left, which curbs overspending.
How do I work out the kitty?＋
Add the shared costs (rounds, taxis, entry, the groom's drinks), split across the paying guests, and add a contingency. The stag kitty calculator does exactly this in a few taps.
Stop reading — start planning.
Put this into practice with the free stag kitty calculator — instant, no faff. Or create a free account and run the whole stag.