The short answer
For the example below, charge about $75 a ticket.
That covers $2,560 in costs for 40 people and leaves $300 profit; the break-even price is $64. With One Ticket’s booking fee passed on, buyers pay $78.08 and you receive $75 a ticket.
This is an example, not a quote or an average: use your own costs in the calculator below.
The example budget
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Venue hire | $300 |
| Actors | $400 |
| Game kit and script | $60 |
| Dinner | $45 a person ($1,800 for 40) |
| Total costs | $2,560 |
| People expected | 40 |
| Profit wanted | $300 |
Worked example
At $75 a ticket, what you receive and keep if fewer than 40 come:
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (20 people) | $1,500 | -$160 |
| Three quarters (30 people) | $2,250 | $140 |
| All 40 people | $3,000 | $440 |
And at the prices either side:
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit at 40 people | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65 | $67.91 | $40 | 38 people |
| $70 | $73 | $240 | 31 people |
| $75 | $78.08 | $440 | 26 people |
| $80 | $83.17 | $640 | 22 people |
| $85 | $88.26 | $840 | 19 people |
Try your own numbers
The calculator starts with the example’s figures: change any of them.
- Break-even price
- $64
- Suggested price
- $75
- Buyer pays
- $78.08
- You receive a ticket
- $75
Charge $75 a ticket. Buyers pay $78.08 with One Ticket’s booking fee, and you receive $75 a ticket. At 40 people you receive $3,000, $440 more than the $2,560 in costs.
If fewer people come
| Attendance | You receive | Profit |
|---|---|---|
| Half (20 people) | $1,500 | -$160 |
| Three quarters (30 people) | $2,250 | $140 |
| All 40 people | $3,000 | $440 |
Prices either side
| Ticket price | Buyer pays | Profit if all come | People to break even |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65 | $67.91 | $40 | 38 people |
| $70 | $73 | $240 | 31 people |
| $75 | $78.08 | $440 | 26 people |
| $80 | $83.17 | $640 | 22 people |
| $85 | $88.26 | $840 | 19 people |
Tips for a murder mystery dinner
Guests often come as a table, so a group ticket can fill the room faster. Ask for dietary requirements at checkout so the kitchen knows before the night.
More in the guide: How do I run bookings for a murder mystery dinner?.
A refund policy to match: Refund policy template for a murder mystery dinner.
The booking fee
One Ticket adds a booking fee at checkout: $3.08 on a $75 ticket, paid by the buyer, so you receive the whole price. It is the same on every plan, free tickets carry none and the Free plan has no monthly cost. See One Ticket pricing.
Common questions
- How much should I charge for a murder mystery dinner?
- For the example budget on this page ($2,560 in costs for 40 people, $300 profit), about $75 a ticket. It is an example: use your own costs.
- What should a murder mystery dinner ticket cover?
- In this example: venue hire, actors, game kit and script, dinner. Count the costs paid for each person apart from the ones paid once, and add any profit you want.
- What if fewer people come?
- At $75 a ticket the example makes a loss of $160 with 20 people and a profit of $140 with 30.
- Who pays the booking fee?
- The buyer, on top of the ticket price: $3.08 on a $75 ticket, so you receive the whole $75.