How Much Is a DJ for a Wedding?
According to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings Study, the average wedding DJ cost is currently $1,700. If that price seems like a lot, remember that this study also points to an average wedding cost of around $33,000. So, it may be helpful if you think of wedding DJ prices as more of a percentage of your total budget.
Based on the figures provided, it can be assumed that most couples will spend about 5% of their total wedding budget on professional DJ services.
For example:
- If your wedding budget is $50,000, you might spend up to $2,500 on a DJ
- If your wedding budget is $10,000, you might try only to spend about $500 on a DJ
When you begin the wedding planning process, first set your wedding budget and decide how much you’ll spend on each vendor and necessary components, such as a wedding venue, florist, photographer, and, of course, a professional wedding DJ. It’ll help you stay on target if you know the threshold you can’t cross.
What You Will Learn
Factors That Can Influence the Average Cost of a Wedding DJ
A range of factors can influence DJ pricing, including:
- Location of the wedding
- Amount of time booked
- Special equipment
- Level of experience
Why Location Matters
If your wedding is in a large city, you can expect to see higher DJ for wedding prices. One thing to remember is that every element of your wedding will likely cost more in the big city than in a small town.
Why Experience Matters
It’s only natural that you’ll pay more for an experienced DJ than you might for someone who’s just getting their business built up. But, before hiring a less-experienced DJ to save a few bucks, ask questions and get recommendations to ensure they’re still a good fit.
Why Time Booked Matters
Many DJs book by the hour, so you’ll also pay for how long they spend at the wedding. For example, suppose you just need two or three hours of wedding reception music. In that case, you’ll pay less than if you need the DJ to provide ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception music, anywhere from the afternoon until well into the night.
Why Special Equipment Matters
Some DJs may also provide special equipment you’ll need to pay extra for, such as a dance floor, sound equipment, mics, lighting, etc. However, if your venue can provide these, you may save money on the average wedding DJ cost. If the DJ is bringing their own equipment, and the event space is larger, they may need to bring more equipment, such as extra speakers, thus raising your costs further.
How to Save Money on a Good Wedding DJ
If you’re looking for a lower wedding DJ cost, there are a few ways you can save, such as planning your big day on an off-day or off-season, booking the talent for less time, working with DJ companies rather than an individual, and booking ahead of time.
1. Plan Your Wedding for an Off-Day or Season
While this may be impossible if you’ve already set your wedding date in stone and sent out save-the-dates, if you are still deciding, you can save on a DJ and many other parts of your wedding by selecting an off-day or season.
An off-season wedding is pretty much any time that’s not mid-summer. Off-days, meanwhile, are pretty much weekdays and Sundays. Because demand is less during these off times, many DJs and other vendors will offer you a deal to get your business for a time they’re not booked.
2. Limit the Amount of Time the DJ Spends at Your Wedding
In most cases, you don’t really need a live DJ for every hour of your wedding day. If your venue supplies an audio-visual professional to oversee the ceremony, they can ensure the right music plays throughout the day. Similarly, during the cocktail hour, you can hook up a playlist and save your DJ budget for the wedding reception.
3. Limit the Amount of Time You Work with the DJ Pre-Wedding
Many DJs offer consultations before the wedding to get a feel for your aesthetic, go over song lists, and fine-tune the playlist so that you hear the songs you love. While this part of the process is very important, try to keep the consultations to a minimum to save on your final bill. It’s best to know what you want for music on your wedding day before you begin talking to DJs.
4. Consider DJ Companies
Rather than working with independent talent, consider DJ companies. Due to less overhead, these companies may be able to charge a lower fee.
5. Book As Early As Possible
Last, but certainly not least, book your DJ as soon as possible. Many wedding vendors offer discounts for early bookings. At the latest, plan to book your DJ about eight months before your wedding day.
How to Pick the Right DJ
Beyond the wedding DJs’ cost, there are other factors to consider when hiring the right talent. As you interview options, be sure to ask about:
- Client referrals — even with more experienced DJs, you’ll want some unfiltered feedback regarding performance and reputation. You may also want to ask all DJs for videos of their work to see how their setup looks and how they perform at real receptions.
- Services and equipment — will they bring their own audio equipment, lighting, a dance floor, and/or other items?
- Particular specialties and experience — this is especially important if you’d like to feature a certain genre of music at your wedding, or if you’d like to incorporate cultural music or dances into your reception.
- Insurance — every vendor should have a policy to cover their services and equipment and a backup plan in case they can’t make it on your wedding day.
Wedding DJ FAQs
Is a DJ or Wedding Band Cheaper?
A DJ will typically be more affordable than live music, including a wedding band.
Can You Have Both a DJ and a Wedding Band?
Yes! Some couples decide to hire both a DJ and a wedding band. For example, you might have the wedding band play during your formal reception and reserve the DJ for the wedding after-party.
Who Pays for the Wedding DJ?
Historically, the bride’s parents paid most of the wedding costs. But it’s common these days for anyone to pay for the wedding, with many-to-be-married couples footing the bill.
Should You Hire a Relative or Friend to DJ Your Wedding?
Only hire a relative or friend if they’re an insured professional. The same goes for hiring a relative or friend as any type of wedding vendor.
How Much Should You Tip a Wedding DJ?
Consider tipping your wedding DJ about 10% of their overall fee, or anywhere between $50 and $150.
As You Plan Your Dream Day, Don’t Forget Wedding Insurance
As you finalize your wedding budget and all your vendors, including a DJ, don’t forget about wedding insurance. It’s a small cost, but it can pay off big time by protecting your investment in the event of vendor cancellations, venue damage caused by guests, severe weather, and more.
Learn more about BriteCo’s wedding insurance options and get your free quote in minutes.
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