Event DJ Pricing Calculator

US 2026 average: $150–$300/hr for weddings and private events. Corporate bookings often run $250–$450/hr due to COI requirements and AV complexity. School dances and birthday parties: $150–$250/hr.

Yes. MC/host coverage is a distinct skill and time commitment. Charge $75–$100/hr for MC hours as a separate line item. Clients who want DJ-only should not subsidize your MC work.

Standard: $25–$50 per fixture. A typical 8-fixture room setup runs $200–$400. Wireless fixtures carry a premium ($35–$50) over wired ($20–$30). Program complexity (color fades, synced cues) adds $100–$200 for custom builds.

Quote separately. A standalone photo booth session is $600–$1200 solo. When bundled with your DJ package at $400–$500, you lose margin fast. Itemize so the client sees the value.

Free within 25 miles is the industry standard. Beyond that: $1.00/mile plus a $40 dispatch fee. Load-in and breakdown time (typically 1.5–2 hrs) should be baked into your base hourly rate, not charged separately — clients hate surprise setup fees.

Build it into your base rate, not a separate line. Professional events expect backup speakers and a backup mixer as standard. If a client pushes back on your rate, explain the redundancy insurance — most appreciate it.

GigSalad is a marketplace that takes 5% per booking and positions you as a commodity. Quotably is direct quoting — you own the client relationship, send branded PDFs, and keep 100% of the booking. Different tools for different goals.

Most states do NOT tax DJ or MC services — they are personal services with no tangible deliverable. Notable exceptions: Texas (amusement services), New York, Pennsylvania, and DC. Quotably auto-applies state rules per your service area.