How the Wedding & Funeral Gift Amount Guide Works
Figuring out how much to spend on a wedding gift or how to honor someone at a funeral can feel awkward without a clear benchmark. This guide gives you a suggested dollar amount based on your relationship to the couple or the family, and adjusts for whether you're attending the wedding in person.
For weddings, common ranges run from about $50 for a coworker or distant acquaintance up to $250 or more for immediate family, with close friends and close relatives falling in between. Some guests also aim to roughly cover the cost of their seat at the reception when that information is available, though it's never required.
Funerals work differently in the U.S. than in cultures where handing over cash is the norm. Instead, it's customary to send flowers to the funeral home or service, or to make a memorial donation to a cause the family has named — often specified as "in lieu of flowers" in the obituary. Giving cash directly to a grieving family is uncommon outside of very close relationships, so this tool suggests a flower or donation budget rather than a cash gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common guideline is $50 for a coworker or distant acquaintance, $100-$150 for a close friend, $150-$200 for a close relative, and $250 or more for immediate family. Many guests aim to roughly cover the cost of their plate at the reception, when possible.
Not really — unlike some cultures where a cash condolence gift is standard, American funeral etiquette leans toward sending flowers to the service or making a memorial donation to a charity the family names (often in lieu of flowers). Cash given directly to the family is uncommon outside close family circles.
It's still customary to send a gift, typically a smaller amount than you'd give if attending — many guests send 50-75% of the in-person amount, often through the couple's registry rather than cash.