What to Buy for a Children’s Birthday Party

A children’s birthday party needs more than cake and balloons. This shopping list covers the practical setup: child-sized tables and chairs, reusable tableware, serving items, cold drinks, decorations and materials for games. Plan quantities from the guest count, then add a small buffer for spills, dropped cups and unexpected siblings. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and collect chilled drinks and the cake close enough to the party that they stay fresh.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Children's tablesqty 3
Children's chairsqty 16
Buffet table
Gift table

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 24
Reusable cupsqty 24
Reusable cutleryqty 24
Serving plattersqty 6
Serving tongsqty 3
Cake stand
Cake server
Coffee Cupsqty 8

Kitchen

Kitchen knifeqty 2
Cutting Boardsqty 2
Coolersqty 2
Thermosesqty 2

Decorations

Balloonqty 40
Balloon pump
Bannersqty 4
Tableclothsqty 4
Birthday plate
Gift tagsqty 20

Equipment

Bluetooth Speaker
Extension cord

Sports equipment

Ballsqty 4
Hoopsqty 4
Sidewalk chalkqty 2
Treasure chest
Prize box

Cleaning

Trash binsqty 3
Dishwashing basin
Dish brushqty 2
Spongesqty 4
Broom
Dustpan and brush
Mop
Bucket
Dustpan and Brush

Catering

Groceries
- Birthday cake - 1 piece
- Vanilla ice cream - 2 liters
- Chocolate cupcakes - 24 pieces
- Mini pizza rolls - 30 pieces
- Chicken nuggets - 1.5 kilograms
- Mini sausages - 2 packs
- Puff pastry snacks - 30 pieces
- Paprika chips - 2 bags
- Plain chips - 2 bags
- Cheese crackers - 2 packs
- Popcorn - 2 bags
- Salted pretzels - 2 bags
- Cucumber - 3 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 500 gram
- Carrots - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 1 kilogram
- Apples - 12 pieces
- Bananas - 12 pieces
- Strawberries - 500 grams
- Applesauce - 2 jars
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Sweet chili sauce - 1 bottle
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 2 bottles
- Orange soda - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 cartons
- Multivitamin drink - 3 packs
- Sparkling mineral water - 2 bottles
- Still mineral water - 2 bottles
- Syrup - 1 bottle
- Coffee - 1 pack
- Tea - 1 box
- Milk - 2 liters
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Ice cubes - 3 bags
- Paper napkins - 3 packs
- Baking paper - 1 roll
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Dish soap - 1 bottle
- All-purpose cleaner - 1 bottle
- Toilet cleaner - 1 bottle
- Kitchen paper - 2 rolls
- Toilet paper - 1 pack
- Trash bags - 1 roll
- Hand soap - 1 bottle
- Bandages - 1 pack
- Paper straws - 1 pack
- Tea lights - 1 pack

Tips

Allow one reusable plate, cup and set of cutlery per child, plus 10% extra. For 20 children, that means 22 of each, so a dropped plate does not interrupt the party.
Plan around 1 litre of non-alcoholic drinks for every 4 children over a two- to three-hour party, including water. Chill most drinks the day before and keep a smaller supply ready for serving.
Buy or prepare about 100–150 grams of savoury snacks per child, then add cake separately. Include at least two options if you have collected dietary requirements, and keep allergen-free food clearly labelled.
Collect the cake on the day of the party, ideally 1–3 hours before guests arrive. Set out a cake stand, cake server and kitchen knife before the children sit down, rather than searching for them during the celebration.
Prepare one active game, one quieter activity and a backup option for every 30–45 minutes. Check balls, hoops, chalk, the treasure chest and prizes the evening before, and place an extension cord and speaker where they cannot become a trip hazard.

Frequently asked questions

How many cups and plates do I need for a children’s birthday party?: Plan one cup and one plate per child, plus 10% extra for spills and replacements. For 15 children, prepare 17 cups and 17 plates, along with 17 sets of cutlery.
How much food do I need for a children’s birthday party?: Allow about 100–150 grams of savoury snacks per child for a two- to three-hour party, in addition to cake. For 15 children, that is roughly 1.5–2.25 kilograms of savoury food, depending on how much activity and meal time are planned.
How many drinks should I buy for a kids’ birthday party?: Allow around 250 millilitres per child per hour, with extra water available. For 15 children at a three-hour party, buy at least 11–12 litres in total, then adjust for hot weather or outdoor games.
When should I buy the cake and chill the drinks?: Chill drinks the day before if possible, using cool boxes when refrigerator space is limited. Collect the cake 1–3 hours before the party starts and keep it cool until it is time to serve.

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