Princess Party Hat Dilemma - Help a Frugal Dad Out!

Hey everyone,

Arjun here from Indianapolis. My youngest, Owen (he’s 3 now, can you believe it?), is obsessed with princesses thanks to his older sisters, Meera (11) and Jude (4). So, naturally, his upcoming birthday on April 15th is going to be a full-blown princess extravaganza. We’re doing it at our house – trying to keep costs down, you know how it is with a troop of 5 plus Charlie the golden retriever running around!

I’m trying to figure out the party supply situation, specifically with cone hats. I’m usually pretty good at stretching a dollar and reusing decorations from past parties. Like, the banners from Wyatt’s (10) medieval party last year? Totally getting repurposed for this princess theme. A little glitter glue, maybe some pink ribbon, and boom – new decor. Saves a ton!

But hats… that’s where I’m stumped. We're expecting about 15 kids, mostly girls aged 3-6, plus Owen and Jude, and then Noah (9) and Wyatt (10) will be around with some of their buddies. So, probably around 20-22 kids total once you count the older ones who will inevitably join in for cake and presents. My main question is, how many cone hats do I need for a princess party of this size?

I’m torn between buying a big pack and having a ton leftover, or not having enough and then some kids feel left out. The last thing I want is a meltdown from a 4-year-old because they don't have a hat. I saw these Kids Birthday Party Hats 11-Pack on GINYOU, and they look pretty cute with the poms, but if I buy two, that’s 22 hats. Is that really enough? Should I get three packs just in case? What about the grown-ups who might want to join in on the fun? My wife loves a good theme, and I can already picture Meera trying to convince me to put one on Charlie.

Any advice from the pros here, especially those who’ve navigated princess parties or just large kid gatherings? I appreciate any tips on quantities, or even if hats are a must-have for every kid. Sometimes I think about all the party planning, and it makes my head spin a little bit. It's almost as complex as trying to figure out how many invitations I need for a Cocomelon party – different theme, same kind of math problem!

Thanks in advance!

Arjun! What’s up from St. Louis! A princess party for Owen, that sounds absolutely EPIC! Miles (my 1-year-old) is just getting into everything, but Finn (6) and Diego (7) are all about the superheroes and Max (8) and my oldest Miles (12) are getting into more "grown-up" stuff, but trust me, they secretly love a good party hat! I start planning parties like, six months out, minimum. I'm already thinking about Finn's next birthday in November!

Okay, so how many cone hats do I need for a princess party with 20-22 kids, plus some potential adult participation? Here's my take: ALWAYS overbuy on the fun stuff, especially hats! Think about it, some might get squashed, some kids might just flat out refuse to wear one for more than five minutes (happens every time!), and then a couple of others will want to wear two! I recently did a "Royal Knight" party for Diego, and it was kind of similar vibe, crown-wise. I had about 18 kids, and I bought 25 "crowns" (they were basically fancy cardstock cone hats). Good thing too, because three got ripped in the first hour during some sword fighting (foam swords, don't worry!), and two of the littlest ones just wouldn't wear them. But then four of the older boys, including my Max, ended up wearing them for the entire cake cutting. I even ended up wearing one for a bit, my wife snapped a pic and it's hilarious!

So, for your 20-22 kids, I'd honestly get at least 30 hats. Seriously! That gives you a buffer for breakage, for kids who want a "backup hat," or for those parents who show up and wanna get in on the spirit. I usually grab stuff like that from Schnucks or even the party store near me. They often have bulk packs that save you a little cash. And those GINYOU 11-packs? Getting three of those would be perfect. You'll have 33 hats, which sounds like a lot, but trust me, it's better to have too many than too few. You can always save the extras for dress-up play or a future party! You know, like when you're figuring out how many centerpieces you need for a farm party – you don't want bare tables, right? Same concept, but for heads!

Good luck, Arjun! Sounds like Owen is going to have an amazing birthday!

Yo Arjun, Lucas here from Baltimore. Frugal genius? Nah, just a dad trying to make it work without breaking the bank for Alice (4), Cole (9), and Ezra (11), plus my wife Olivia and Millie the French bulldog. And yeah, I'm with you on the reuse thing. We once used some old soccer nets as "dungeon walls" for Cole's adventure party. Saved a fortune on themed backdrops.

So, the cone hat question for a princess party… that's a classic. My advice: always have a backup plan, but don't go overboard. For Alice's 4th birthday last year, we did a "Teacup Party." Had about 18 kids, mostly little ones. I figured, "Okay, 18 kids, I'll get a pack of 20 hats, perfect." WRONG. Turns out, Alice decided she wanted to be the "hat queen" and insisted on trying every single hat on every single kid, which led to some early casualties. One got stepped on, one went in the punch bowl (don't ask), and two just vanished into the abyss that is a toddler party. By the time cake rolled around, I was short three hats. It wasn't a catastrophe, but it was a little awkward trying to explain to three disappointed kids why they didn't get a hat. I learned my lesson. Better to have a few extra stashed away.

So, how many cone hats do I need for a princess party with 20-22 kids? I'd say aim for about 25-28. That gives you that crucial 3-5 hat buffer. The 11-pack from GINYOU you mentioned? Grab three of those. You'll have 33 hats, which is plenty. You can always use the extras for a craft station – let the kids decorate them with stickers and glitter (though maybe keep the glitter contained, I swear that stuff never leaves your house). My biggest party mistake was not having enough paper plates for Cole’s last minute baseball party. Ended up serving cake on napkins! It reminded me of thinking how many napkins I needed for a Spiderman party – always underestimate the mess, and the desire for hats!

As for adults, don't bank on them wearing hats unless they're super into it. Maybe have a couple of plain ones if a parent really wants one, but focus on the kids. Last-minute planning means I usually forget something, so I try to prioritize. Hats for every kid? Yes. Hats for every adult? Not necessary. You've got this, man!

Hi Arjun! Autumn here from Boise, ID. As an elementary teacher (5th grade for 11 years!) and a mom to Piper (2), Luna (3), Ellie (9), Emma (10), and Max (13), I totally get the anxious planner vibe. Parties for my five? Oh, I basically have a spreadsheet for everything, including a column for "backup quantity." It's probably why I'm always at Costco or WinCo, buying in bulk for everything from snacks to craft supplies!

For a princess party, especially with a mix of ages like yours, the hat situation is definitely something to pre-plan. You're asking, legitimately, how many cone hats do I need for a princess party for around 20-22 kids. Based on my experience, and always having a contingency, I would lean towards having at least 30, maybe even 35 if you want to be super safe. Kids are unpredictable! Some will lose theirs, some will trade, some will get a little too enthusiastic with their "royal decrees" and accidentally tear one. It's just part of the fun chaos!

When Emma had her princess-themed 9th birthday, we invited 20 of her friends. I bought a pack of 24 princess hats from a party store, thinking that extra 4 would be enough. Big mistake! Within the first hour, two were damaged, and three of the younger cousins (who weren't on the official invite list but showed up with their parents) felt left out. I ended up having to quickly fashion some makeshift crowns out of paper plates and glitter I had on hand for an emergency craft activity. It was okay, but definitely added to my stress. From that day on, I always aim for an extra 50% buffer on small, easily-disposable party favors like hats. If I had been planning for a Bluey party, I'd be asking myself how many backdrops I needed, and probably getting an extra one just in case!

So, if you’re looking at those 11-packs, I would absolutely get three of them. That gives you 33 hats, which covers your 20-22 kids with a good 10-13 hats to spare. You can use the extra ones for a fun photo booth prop station, or even as part of the goodie bags. Kids love taking an extra hat home. And trust me, it's a small expense for the peace of mind knowing every kid who wants a hat will get one, and you won't be scrambling mid-party. Plus, if any of Noah or Wyatt's friends get swept up in the princess magic, you'll be ready! Hope Owen has the most magical birthday!