Planning wedding favors shouldn't be stressful. Here's exactly how to calculate your magnet count, including the buffer you'll be glad you ordered.
- 4 min read
You've picked the venue, the flowers, the caterer. Now comes the question every couple Googles at 11 pm the week before the wedding: how many magnets do I actually need?
The short answer: fewer than you think, but more than you're about to order. Here's how to get it right.
Count households, not heads
The most common mistake is ordering one magnet per guest. If you have 150 guests, that's 150 magnets, most of which go home with couples and families who only need one. The right unit is household, not person.
A rough formula that works for most weddings:
- Take your guest count
- Multiply by 0.6 (accounts for couples, families, plus-ones)
- Round up to the nearest pack size
So 120 guests → about 72 magnets. 200 guests → about 120 magnets.
Always add a buffer
Order 10–15% more than your calculation. Magnets get lost at the venue, some guests grab extras, and you'll want a few for yourselves. Running short on the day is a stress you don't need.
If your number falls between pack sizes, round up. You'll use them. Leftover magnets make great thank-you gifts for your vendors.
Live event vs. pre-ordered: does it change the math?
If you're booking our live event magnet station, guests make their own at the wedding, so you only need to account for no-shows (typically 10–20% of RSVPs). If you're pre-ordering wedding magnets to put at place settings, use the full household calculation above.
Use the calculator
Rather than do the math by hand, use our free magnet calculator. Enter your guest count, choose Events mode, and it'll tell you exactly how many to order, plus which pack sizes give you the best value.
Quick reference
| Guest count | Suggested magnets |
|---|---|
| 50 | 30–35 |
| 100 | 60–70 |
| 150 | 90–105 |
| 200 | 120–140 |
| 250 | 150–175 |
Still not sure? Message us on WhatsApp with your guest count and we can help with a recommendation.