Wedding Ang Bao Guide: How Much to Give in Singapore
The baseline rule most Singaporeans follow: your ang bao should at least cover the cost of your seat at the banquet. For a mid-range hotel dinner, that means roughly S$150 to S$200 per person. For a five-star ballroom, S$250 to S$300 per person is more appropriate. If you are close to the couple, add a premium on top. Read on for the full breakdown by venue, table tier, and relationship.
Why "cover your seat" is the right starting point
Wedding banquets are expensive to host. A Saturday hotel dinner table for 10 guests costs S$1,800 to S$2,400 nett at mid-range venues, and S$2,500 to S$3,100 nett at premium ones. That works out to S$180 to S$310 per person before the couple has paid a single cent on flowers, photography, or attire.
Your ang bao is not just a gift. It is the couple's primary way of recovering that spend. Under-giving puts real financial pressure on them.
How much should I give at a hotel ballroom wedding?
Use the table below as your guide. All figures are per person (not per couple), nett.
Venue type Budget table Mid-range table Premium / Luxury table Restaurant S$80 to S$120 S$120 to S$150 S$150+ Hotel ballroom (mid) S$120 to S$150 S$150 to S$200 S$200+ Five-star hotel S$200 to S$250 S$250 to S$300 S$300+
If you are attending as a couple, double the per-person figure. If you are bringing a child who occupies a seat, factor in a seat for them too.
Not sure which tier the venue falls into? A quick way to gauge it is the hotel's star rating and postcode. Orchard Road or Marina Bay addresses almost always sit in the premium bracket.
Does my relationship to the couple change the amount?
Yes, significantly. The "cover your seat" floor is just that: a floor. Your relationship adds a layer on top.
Acquaintance or colleague: Stick close to the per-seat cost. There is no expectation to go beyond it.
Friend: Add S$20 to S$50 per person above the seat cost. A closer friendship warrants the higher end.
Close friend or relative: S$50 to S$100 per person above the seat cost is a reasonable gesture of warmth.
Immediate family (siblings, parents): Amounts here are deeply personal and often agreed within the family. Practical gifts, contributions to the honeymoon, or cash transfers outside the ang bao are all common.
What if I am not attending the banquet?
If you are invited but cannot attend, S$50 to S$100 as a gesture is thoughtful, though there is no strict obligation. You are not occupying a seat, so the "cover your seat" logic does not apply. A meaningful physical gift in the same range is equally appropriate.
If you were not invited to the banquet at all, a gift is a kind gesture but entirely optional.
What about ang bao packets for my own wedding?
If you are the one getting married, you will need to budget for ang bao packets (also called red packets) for your guests and vendors. Printed or customised packets range from S$300 to S$2,000 or more depending on design, quantity, and whether you bundle them with other stationery. Plain packets from a stationery shop cost far less. Browse invitations and gifts vendors on Delegate to compare options.
You will also need cash-filled packets for your vendors and helpers on the day: photographers, emcees, drivers, and the like. The standard amount per vendor is S$10 to S$30 per packet, though for key vendors like your lead photographer or day-of coordinator, couples often give more as a personal thank-you.
How do I handle a table where I do not know the cost?
When in doubt, default to the mid-range hotel figure: S$150 to S$200 per person. This is the most common banquet tier in Singapore and the figure most guests default to without any information.
If you know the couple well enough, it is perfectly acceptable to ask a mutual friend who is also attending. Nobody expects you to have perfect information.
Should I give more if I RSVP'd yes but cannot make it last minute?
Yes. If the couple has already confirmed your seat with the venue and catering has been ordered for you, your last-minute absence still costs them money. Giving at least the full per-seat amount, even though you did not attend, is considered good etiquette.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum acceptable ang bao for a Singapore hotel wedding in 2026? For a mid-range hotel ballroom dinner, S$150 per person is widely considered the minimum that covers your seat. At a premium or five-star venue, S$200 to S$250 per person is more appropriate. Going below these figures at a hotel wedding is generally seen as under-giving, regardless of your relationship with the couple.
Is it better to give an ang bao or a physical gift at a Singapore wedding? Most Singapore couples strongly prefer cash in an ang bao. They are managing large upfront costs for the banquet, gown, and photography, and cash helps them recover those costs directly. Physical gifts are most appreciated when you know the couple's preferences well, or when you give them in addition to a modest ang bao. If you are unsure, go with cash.
Does the ang bao amount change if the wedding is a lunch instead of a dinner? Yes. Lunch banquets typically cost the couple less per table than Saturday evening dinners. It is reasonable to give 10 to 20 percent less at a Sunday lunch compared with a Saturday dinner at the same venue. The "cover your seat" principle still applies, so calibrate based on what you estimate the table cost to be.
How much should I give if I am attending with my partner as a couple? Double the per-person figure. If the per-seat benchmark for that venue is S$150, a couple should give S$300 in total. Some couples round up slightly, especially for close friends, as a gesture of generosity. Rounding to the nearest S$50 is common.
What is pin jin and is it related to ang bao? Pin jin is a separate Chinese betrothal custom where the groom's family presents cash to the bride's family as part of the engagement process. It is distinct from the ang bao guests give at a banquet. Pin jin amounts vary widely (S$0 to S$5,000 or more) and are negotiated between families. If you are planning your own wedding, build this into your budget early because it is often overlooked.
Planning your own wedding and want to see what vendors cost before you lock in a guest count? Use Wedding Desk to build a full budget, then compare real quotes from Singapore's top vendors across categories like florals and decor and photography and videography.
