Free Planning Tool
Class Reunion Headcount Calculator
Estimate expected attendance based on your class size, milestone year, ticket price, and contact reach. Get a realistic range so you can plan venue and food without over- or under-buying.
How big was your graduating class?
Total students in your class at graduation.
Which reunion is this?
10, 20, 25, and 50-year reunions get highest turnout. 15 and 35 are typically lowest.
What % of classmates can you reach?
75%The % with a current email/phone/social. Most committees start around 60-70%.
Ticket price per person
Tickets above $100 reduce attendance ~5-15%; above $200 reduces ~15-25%.
Expected Total Attendance
107–150
people in the room
| Reachable classmates | 165 |
| Classmates attending | 71–91 |
| Plus-ones (spouses, etc.) | 36–59 |
| TOTAL (range) | 107–150 |
Plan venue and food for:
129 people
The safe midpoint — covers most outcomes.
Ways to boost turnout:
- ✓Find the missing 25-40% of classmates first
- ✓Use early-bird pricing 8-12 weeks out
- ✓Recruit a liaison per friend group
- ✓Personal text to top 20 most-active classmates
- ✓Announce 9-12 months in advance
👥 With Reunly
Track real RSVPs as they come in
Reunly's live RSVP dashboard shows actual numbers against your projection so you can adjust orders before deadlines.
Why These Numbers Matter
Venues commit to a number 6 weeks out
You'll need to give the venue a committed headcount 4-6 weeks before the event. Be off by 20% and you're either short on food or paying for empty plates.
Name tags need 2 weeks lead time
Print name tags 14 days before the event with your then-current RSVPs, plus 30 blanks for walk-ins. Final count from the calculator helps you order the right inventory.
Ticket price changes the math
Drop your ticket from $150 to $100 and you might attract 15% more people — which can mean a bigger venue. The calculator shows the cost/attendance trade-off in real time.
Recovery beats projection
Finding the missing 25-40% of classmates raises your reachable pool — which is the biggest lever you have. Don't accept that 40% of your class is unreachable; recover them first.
Headcount Questions
What percentage of a graduating class attends a reunion?
Typical class reunion attendance ranges from 25-55% of reachable classmates. The 10-year is around 40-55% (high engagement). The 15-year is the lowest at 30-42% (career/young-kid stage). The 20 and 25-year rebound to 45-60%. The 50-year is surprisingly strong at 45-60% as retirees travel. Plus-ones add another 50-65% on top.
Why is the 15-year class reunion attendance lower than 10 or 20?
Most committees report a noticeable dip at the 15-year. Classmates are in their early-to-mid 30s, often with young kids and demanding careers, traveling is harder, and the 'novelty' of the 10-year has worn off. Many committees skip the 15-year entirely and go straight from 10 to 20.
Does ticket price affect class reunion attendance?
Yes. Tickets above $100 reduce attendance by approximately 5-15%. Above $200, attendance can drop 15-25%. The trade-off: lower price means more people but lower revenue per attendee. Most committees land at $80-150 per ticket for a quality event that doesn't price out too many classmates.
How does a destination reunion affect attendance?
Destination reunions (Vegas, Nashville, beach resorts) typically draw 50-60% of what a hometown reunion would draw. They're more memorable for the people who come, but the travel cost and time commitment knocks out a meaningful chunk of classmates. Best for milestone reunions where the committee wants a different vibe.
How do I increase class reunion attendance?
Five proven tactics: (1) Find the missing 25-40% of classmates first — every found classmate is a potential attendee. (2) Use early-bird pricing with a real 8-12 week deadline. (3) Recruit a liaison per friend group who personally invites their old circle. (4) Personal text to your top 20 most-active classmates — they pull their friends. (5) Announce 9-12 months in advance so people can book travel.
Track Live RSVPs in Reunly
Forecasts are useful. Real-time RSVP counts are better. Reunly shows you both side by side.
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