How many guests should you invite to a baby shower?

There is no right number

The best guest count is the one the parent-to-be will actually enjoy. Some people want a small table of their closest friends; others want everyone who has ever knitted them a bootee. Start with the guest of honour's preference and work outwards.

Typical baby shower sizes

• Intimate shower: 6 to 12 guests, ideal for private dining or a spa afternoon
• Classic shower: 15 to 30 guests, the most common range by far
• Large shower: 30 to 60 guests, usually mixed (partners, family and friends together)

Around two thirds of invited guests typically attend, so if you invite 30 expect roughly 20 on the day. RSVPs firm that up quickly.

Mixed or traditional?

The women-only shower is the tradition, but mixed showers with partners, friends and family of all kinds are now just as common in the UK. A mixed list naturally runs larger, which nudges you towards hotel function rooms, pub function rooms or garden venues rather than a small private dining room. Decide this early, since it shapes the venue search.

Managing RSVPs

Send invitations four to six weeks ahead with a clear reply-by date about two weeks before the day. A group chat or free online invitation makes chasing painless. Venues are generally relaxed about final numbers moving until a few days before, but confirm the venue's own deadline when you book.

Matching numbers to a venue

Look for a room that fits your expected number comfortably rather than at its absolute maximum. A room rated for 40 feels right with 25 to 30 seated guests, balloons and a gift table. For an afternoon tea, everyone needs a seat; for a standing buffet you can run closer to the room's capacity. Venue listings on this site show seated and standing figures for each room, with a plain-English note on the size of gathering each suits.