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Birthday Party Supplies

Expert Picks for January 2026

Best Birthday Party Supplies

Everything you need except the cake. We compared birthday party supplies from themed kits to customizable sets—finding what makes party planning easy and keeps kids (or adults) happy.

Last updated: January 28, 2026
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Best Overall Our top recommendation
Best Overall
Complete Birthday Party Kit

Party City

Complete Birthday Party Kit

4.6 (23,456 reviews)

One box, entire party supplies handled. Plates, cups, napkins, utensils, tablecloth, banner—all coordinated. Shows up, party ready.

Serves

16 guests

Includes

Plates/cups/napkins/utensils

Theme

Solid colors

Pieces

140+

Pros

  • Everything included
  • Coordinated theme
  • Serves 16 guests

Cons

  • Generic themes
  • Quality varies
  • May have extras you dont need

Head-to-Head Comparison

ProductRatingPrice Action
Complete Birthday Party Kit
Complete Birthday Party Kit Best
Party City
4.6
$35 View
Character Theme Party Pack
Character Theme Party Pack
Unique Industries
4.5
$50 View
Balloon Garland Arch Kit
Balloon Garland Arch Kit Value
XOFETTI
4.7
$20 View
Party Favor Assortment
Party Favor Assortment
Oriental Trading
4.4
$25 View
Fiesta Birthday Banner
Fiesta Birthday Banner
Papel Picado
4.5
$12 View

* Prices may vary. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

All Recommended Products

Best Overall
Complete Birthday Party Kit

Party City

Complete Birthday Party Kit

4.6 (23,456 reviews)

One box, entire party supplies handled. Plates, cups, napkins, utensils, tablecloth, banner—all coordinated. Shows up, party ready.

Serves

16 guests

Includes

Plates/cups/napkins/utensils

Theme

Solid colors

Pieces

140+

Pros

  • Everything included
  • Coordinated theme
  • Serves 16 guests

Cons

  • Generic themes
  • Quality varies
  • May have extras you dont need
Premium Pick
Character Theme Party Pack

Unique Industries

Character Theme Party Pack

4.5 (15,678 reviews)

When your kid has a specific character obsession, this delivers. Licensed themes from popular franchises with quality printing that actually looks like the characters.

Serves

8-16 guests

Themes

Disney/Marvel/etc

Includes

Full tableware

Quality

Premium

Pros

  • Licensed characters
  • Complete themed set
  • High quality printing

Cons

  • Premium price
  • Limited themes
  • Sells out for popular characters
Best Value
Balloon Garland Arch Kit

XOFETTI

Balloon Garland Arch Kit

4.7 (34,567 reviews)

The photo backdrop that makes parents look like they tried harder than they did. Balloon garlands look professional but assembly is actually easy with the strip system.

Balloons

120+

Includes

Arch strip/tape/glue dots

Colors

Customizable kits

Style

Organic garland

Pros

  • Instagram-worthy backdrop
  • Easy assembly
  • Lots of balloons

Cons

  • Time to assemble
  • Needs inflation
  • Balloons deflate after event
Party Favor Assortment

Oriental Trading

Party Favor Assortment

4.4 (19,234 reviews)

Bulk favor assortment for goody bags, prize boxes, or piñata filling. Not heirloom quality, but kids don't care—they want quantity.

Pieces

100+

Types

Mixed toys/trinkets

Ages

3-10

Use

Goody bags/prizes

Pros

  • Tons of small toys
  • Great value per piece
  • Kids love variety

Cons

  • Quality is basic
  • Some items better than others
  • Lots of plastic
Budget Pick
Fiesta Birthday Banner

Papel Picado

Fiesta Birthday Banner

4.5 (12,345 reviews)

Instant fiesta atmosphere. Colorful papel picado banners transform any space into a celebration. Traditional craft, modern party essential.

Panels

10

Material

Tissue paper

Style

Mexican papel picado

Length

16 feet

Pros

  • Festive colors
  • Reusable
  • Cultural flair

Cons

  • Paper tears easily
  • Specific style
  • Not weatherproof

Buying Guide: How to Choose Birthday Party Supplies

How to Choose Birthday Party Supplies

Guest Count Math
Buy for actual expected attendance plus 10%. Better to have extras than run short mid-party.

### Theme Coordination
Pick a theme early and stick to it. Mixing themes looks chaotic. Solid colors work if you can't decide on characters.

### Don't Forget
Candles, cake topper, party bags, thank-you cards. The things you remember at 10 PM the night before.

Frequently Asked Questions About Birthday Party Supplies

How many party supplies do I need per guest?

Plan for 2 plates per guest (cake and food), 2-3 napkins, 1-2 cups. Buy packs slightly larger than your guest count.

What age should I start themed birthday parties?

Kids start recognizing and requesting themes around age 2-3. Before that, simple colors work fine and cost less.

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