Thanksgiving Hosting: Plates, Cups and Foil Per Unit

Those figures come from Dealophant's live data, checked on Nov 13, 5:31 AM UTC. Thanksgiving tables fill up fast, and disposable supplies add up when you cook for a crowd. Comparing by unit instead of by sticker price keeps the total in check.

What are the cheapest Thanksgiving supplies per unit?

Here is the top result in each category, checked on Nov 13, 5:31 AM UTC:

• Paper plates: Amazon Basics 9" Uncoated White Paper Plates, Microwave..., at $0.044 per plate. It costs $4.39 for 100 plates.
• Plastic cups: SIUQ 600 Pack 9 oz Plastic Cups, Clear Disposable Plastic..., at $0.043 per cup. It costs $25.99 for 600 cups.
• Aluminum foil: EJY IMPORT Standard Premium Aluminum Foil, at $0.040 per square foot. It costs $39.99 for 1000 square feet.
• Paper napkins: Amazon Basics Everyday Paper Napkins, 400 Count, at $0.013 per napkin. It costs $4.99 for 400 napkins.

Each category has 5 ranked options, so you can look past the first result if the size or style does not suit your table.

Which paper plates are cheapest per plate?

Plate packs range from small counts to very large ones. The second-ranked option, Amazon Basics Everyday Paper Plates, 8.62 Inch, Disposable..., costs $0.053 per plate at 300 plates, which shows how close the top results can be. A large pack can look expensive at the register but land near the top once you divide by the plate count.

Plate diameter matters too. A smaller plate may be fine for dessert but not for a full dinner, so compare plates of a similar diameter. See the full ranking on the paper plates comparison page.

How do plastic cups compare per ounce?

Cups are ranked by the ounce, not by the cup. That keeps a small cup from looking cheaper than a large one just because the pack price is lower. The top cup result is $0.043 per cup, and the fifth is $0.12 per cup, so the spread is worth a look before you order.

Think about how your guests will use them. If you want cups for water, cider and wine, one mid-size cup may cover everything. Check whether lids or straws are included, since they change what the pack is really for. The plastic cups comparison lists every ranked option.

Is it worth buying foil and napkins in bulk?

Foil is where bulk pays off most clearly, because rolls are measured in square feet and the top results are close together. The first foil result is $0.040 per square foot and the fifth is $0.080 per square foot. Foil also keeps, so leftover rolls will not go to waste after the holiday.

Napkins are similar. The first napkin result is $0.013 per napkin, and the fifth is $0.017 per napkin. A bigger pack makes sense if you will use it, but a smaller pack is fine if storage is tight. Compare aluminum foil and paper napkins side by side before you commit.

Before you buy

Prices move in the weeks before a holiday, and popular packs can sell out. Open a product on Amazon to confirm the pack size before you order. For more deals across every category, see the lowest unit prices, read how Dealophant calculates price per unit, or browse the blog. You can also learn about Dealophant.