Christmas plates and tableware
Prices checked on Amazon UK on 3 October 2026; they may have changed since. The price ranges and medians quoted in the text of this page come from the check of 29 September 2026. Ratings and review counts are those of Amazon shoppers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Christmas plates: what you will find here
This collection is mainly disposable partyware. Nearly every listing is paper plates, sold in packs of 32 to 125 pieces, often with matching napkins and cups, and some with a plastic tablecloth in the pack. The exceptions are a porcelain collector plate dated for the year, and a wooden plate for Santa’s mince pie. Most items cost between £6 and £17.
If you want reusable dinner plates, the listings here will help less. Real china is sold by piece count, and a 24-piece set usually serves eight people, at three pieces each. Check the diameter too: Christmas dinner plates run from about 21 cm to 26 cm.
Plate sizes
| Size | Use |
|---|---|
| 7 inch (18 cm) | Starter, pudding, mince pies |
| 9 inch (23 cm) | Main meal |
| 10 x 12.5 inch oval (25 x 32 cm) | Serving platter or buffet |
| 24 to 26 cm porcelain | Dinner plate for a reusable set |
Party sets: how many pieces per guest
| Set | Covers | What is in it |
|---|---|---|
| 32 to 50 plates | Depends on the courses | Plates only, in one size |
| 53 pieces | 16 guests | Plates, napkins and a tablecloth |
| 100 pieces | 25 guests | 25 dinner plates, 25 salad plates, 25 cups, plus napkins or cutlery |
| 120 to 125 pieces | 24 to 25 guests | Dinner and salad plates, cups and napkins, some with straws or a tablecloth |
For a three-course Christmas dinner, count three plates per guest for starter, main and pudding. Add a spare pack, because the cheese board and the leftovers need plates later.
Strength, heat and recycling
- A roast dinner with gravy is heavy for a thin paper plate. Use the 23 cm size for the main course, or stack two.
- Most listings say the plates are not microwaveable and not dishwasher safe. Treat them as single use, and reheat food on a normal plate.
- Food-soiled paper plates usually cannot go in paper recycling, and a biodegradable label does not make a plate recyclable. Check your council’s rules.
Christmas plates around the rest of the table
Plates sit on the cloth, runner or placemats, with a cracker at each place. See Christmas tablecloths, Christmas table runners and Christmas crackers. The whole range sits under Christmas table decorations.
For a layout from simple to formal, read Christmas table setting ideas for dinner, and for napkins how to fold Christmas napkins.
Frequently asked questions: Christmas Plates & Tableware
What size are Christmas dinner plates?
Paper dinner plates are 9 inch (23 cm), and the 7 inch (18 cm) size suits starters and pudding. Reusable china dinner plates run from about 21 cm to 26 cm across. Measure the place on your table before buying, because a larger plate leaves less room for cutlery and a cracker.
How many Christmas plates do I need per guest?
Count three plates per guest for a three-course dinner: starter, main and pudding. Add a spare pack for the cheese board and leftovers. A 100-piece party set covers 25 guests, at four pieces each.
What is Christmas partyware?
Partyware is a matching set of disposable plates, cups and napkins, and sometimes cutlery or a plastic tablecloth, in one Christmas design. Sets in this collection run from 32 to 125 pieces. It saves washing up on a day with many guests.
Can you microwave paper Christmas plates?
Most listings in this collection say the plates are not microwaveable and not dishwasher safe. Use a normal plate to reheat food, and treat paper plates as single use.
Are paper Christmas plates recyclable?
Food-soiled paper plates usually cannot go in paper recycling, and a biodegradable label does not make a plate recyclable. Clean, uncoated paper is the easiest to recycle. Check your council’s rules before you bin them.
How many pieces are in a Christmas dinner set?
Real china sets are sold by piece count, and a 24-piece set usually serves eight people, at three pieces each. Check which three pieces each guest gets, such as a dinner plate, a side plate and a bowl. Reusable sets are rare in this collection, which is mostly paper.
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