Do you feel like your Christmas spending is spiralling out of control? With endless presents to buy, luxury food to stock up on and parties to attend, it can feel like you’re haemorrhaging money.
But if Christmas 2025 is looking more expensive than ever for your family, you’re not alone. An investigation by the Mail reveals this may be costliest on record, with almost every festive essential – from gifts to drinks, fashion to hospitality – going up . . .
Trees grow over £100
Real Christmas trees broke the £100 barrier for the first time this year, with some 6ft and 7ft trees rising in price by up to £30. The British Christmas Tree Growers Association claims consumers paid on average £45 for a 6ft tree in 2024, while the same height tree has now spiked to £63, driven by a rise in transport and labour costs.
Higher manufacturing and shipping costs have also driven up prices for artificial trees.
Decorations and lights (which cost on average £32.50 and £22.50, respectively, in 2024) have also spiked, totalling £58.64 this year – an increase of £3.64
Last year’s average: £100
This year’s average: £121.64
Increase (tree, lights, decorations): £21.64 or 21.64 per cent
Turkeys gobble cash
Poultry producers have been battling bird flu, with almost 70 confirmed cases. Five per cent of Christmas turkeys, ducks and chickens – over 300,000 birds – have been culled.
While supermarket birds have remained steady, premium free-range turkeys have risen from £18 per kilogram to £23 – a 30 per cent increase. Turkey crowns have jumped from £20 to £25 per kilogram at one retailer. With the average family of four requiring a 5kg bird, the knock-on effect is huge.
Last year’s average: £90
This year’s average: £115
Increase (premium 5kg turkey): £25 or 27.78 per cent
Top price trimmings
There is a little good news: on average Christmas dinner will be cheaper than 2024. According to figures from Worldpanel, the average cost of a festive feast for four is £32.46, a decrease of a few pence. But most of this is down to our preference for frozen turkey, which is down 3.6 per cent on last year.
Look at those trimmings and you’ll see almost every one is more expensive. Sprouts are up 3.6 per cent, roast potatoes by 1.1 per cent, gravy 5.1 per cent and stuffing mix by 6.9 per cent. Cranberry sauce is up 10 per cent, carrots up 5.5 per cent and cauliflower by 4.2 per cent. That’s top of what analysts say was the second-worst harvest on record, pricier animal feed and less domestic grain.
Last year’s average: £8.68
This year’s average: £9.09
Increase (trimmings): 41p or 4.72 per cent
Shrinking sweets
According to the Food and Drink Federation, grocery prices are up 5.7 per cent. Worst-affected are Christmas staples, including butter, milk, coffee and chocolate up by 15.6 per cent. Chocolate – up by 18.1 per cent – is the worst offender with Maltesers more expensive per gram than steak.
More than five million of us bought a chocolate advent calendar, but have found ever-smaller treats behind the windows.
Grinch-like shrinkflation has also affected Christmas classics. Quality Street has reduced in weight from 600g to 550g; Celebrations are down from 550g in 2024 to 500g; and Terry’s Chocolate Orange has shrunk from 157g to 145g – due to rising cocoa prices, after poor harvests in west Africa.
Last year’s average: £4
This year’s average: £4.50
Increase (chocolate tubs): 50p or 12.5 per cent
Retail prices of gifts have risen on average 26 per cent, with kitchen items up 38 per cent
Gifts going up
‘Parents are noticing branded toys and electronics cost significantly more than last year,’ explains money expert Sarah McCaulden. ‘Mark-ups are often 10 to 15 per cent.’
A report this week found retail prices of gifts have risen on average 26 per cent, with home and kitchen items up 38 per cent, electronics up 34 per cent and toys and games rising by 17 per cent on 2024’s prices.
This hits gifts for younger children, with the toy industry affected by fluctuating tariffs on goods from China. MoneySuperMarket estimates we’ll each spend on average £181.07 on presents this year.
Last year’s average: £130
This year’s average: £181.07
Increase (gifting): £51.07 or 39.29 per cent
Wine bubbles over
According to Worldpanel by Numerator, our average spending on festive drinks has increased from £55 in 2024 to £78.08.
Wine expert Helena Nicklin says this is due to a ‘perfect storm’ of spiralling costs. ‘Glass, stoppers and labels have shot up. Another huge factor is the high tax governments make us pay on wine.’
Even at a modest 13 per cent ABV, around 68 per cent (£4.02) of a £6 bottle of wine goes on tax. A bottle of champagne now costs 25 per cent (around £8.70) more than it did two or three years ago.
Last year’s average: £55
This year’s average: £78.08
Increase (festive drinks): £23.08 or 41.96 per cent
Nights out of reach
The musical Paddington, at The Savoy Theatre in London’s West End is selling for over £200
The Stage UK reveals the average cheapest tickets in theatres is up 16.6 per cent. Tickets to see the musical Paddington, at The Savoy Theatre in London’s West End, were selling for over £200. Nationally, average costs for musicals, pantomimes and other festive theatre productions have risen from £40 to £50 in 2025.
The cost of eating out has soared, too, and that work Christmas lunch or boozy staff party prices are increasing, with the UK average now £172 per head (up from £160). ‘Hospitality venues are dealing with higher operational costs, particularly in areas like staffing, energy, production and insurance,’ explains Sarah McCaulden.
LAST YEAR’S AVERAGE: £160
THIS YEAR’S AVERAGE: £200
Increase (theatre outing for four): £40 or 25 per cent
Party poopers
With prices of sequins, winter coats and occasion wear all rising, that glittery Christmas party outfit is becoming unaffordable.
Seasonal clothing is showing a 24 per cent increase. This is due to rising material costs – especially leather and textiles. ‘Many women tell me they’ve skipped buying a new Christmas outfit this year,’ says Sarah McCaulden.
Last year’s average: £36
This year’s average: £65.85
Increase (party oufit): £29.85 or 82.9 per cent
Costly cards
First-class stamps rose from £1.65 last year to £1.70. The price of cards has also risen, from 71p – for a single card in a pack of boxed supermarket cards – in 2024, to 74p this year. On average we send 12 Christmas cards.
Last year’s average: £28.32
This year’s average: £29.28
Increase (12 cards and stamps): 96p or 3.39 per cent
Don’t say cheese
With butter and milk rising in price (by 17.5 per cent and 12 per cent respectively,), it’s no wonder the cost of own-label supermarket cheese rose by an average of 3.7 per cent, and branded cheese by 4.2 per cent.
Gruyere and Brie saw the steepest increase, rising by 14 per cent and 11 per cent. Premium cheddar is also up by 4.6 per cent.
Last year’s average: £22
This year’s average: £35
Increase (cheese selections): £13 or 59.1 per cent
And the final figures . . .
Cost of Christmas in 2024: £634
Cost in 2025: £839.51
Total increase: £205.51 or 30.8 per cent
