How much to charge as a DJ
Updated 26 September 2026
Most mobile DJs price by the length of the booking, with a minimum number of hours and a higher rate for weddings. MC work, uplighting and ceremony sound are usually sold as add-ons. Your rate also has to pay for the planning calls and the drive, which nobody sees on the night.
Example DJ services prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birthday party, 4 hours | $600 | £480 | A$920 | CA$800 |
| Corporate event, 4 hours, with MC and uplighting | $1,040 | £830 | A$1,590 | CA$1,390 |
| Wedding, 6 hours, with ceremony sound, MC and uplighting | $1,770 | £1,420 | A$2,700 | CA$2,370 |
Priced with the starting rates in our DJ services template, in each country's currency. They're a starting point, not a survey of local rates, so set your own from what your jobs take and what others charge near you.
How DJs and entertainers set their prices
By the hour, with a minimum
Clients pay for each hour you play, and every booking has a minimum length. It's the easiest price to explain. The minimum stops a two-hour party from costing you money.
Packages by event type
A package for each kind of event, with set hours and gear. Weddings bring more planning and more pressure on the day, so their packages cost more.
Setup fee plus hours
A fixed fee for travel, loading in and setting up, plus an hourly rate for playing. Clients can see where your time goes, and short bookings stay worth taking.
Sample DJ services price list
The prices in our template, as a list you can adapt. Percentages change the price of the job; fixed-price extras are added on top.
| Item | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event type: Corporate event | +15% | +15% | +15% | +15% |
| Event type: Wedding | +30% | +30% | +30% | +30% |
| Performance time, per hour | $150 | £120 | A$230 | CA$200 |
| MC services | +$150 | +£120 | +A$230 | +CA$200 |
| Uplighting | +$200 | +£160 | +A$300 | +CA$270 |
| Ceremony sound | +$250 | +£200 | +A$380 | +CA$340 |
| Photo booth | +$450 | +£360 | +A$680 | +CA$610 |
| Minimum job price | $500 | £400 | A$750 | CA$680 |
Put this price list on your website
Customers answer a few questions about the job, see the price and send you their details. This is our DJ services quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
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Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing only the hours you play. A four-hour set can be an eight-hour day once you add the drive, loading in, sound checks and packing down. Your hourly rate has to cover all of it.
- Charging a wedding the same as a birthday. Weddings mean planning meetings, a running order, announcements and a first dance that has to go right. Our template adds 30% for a wedding and 15% for a corporate event.
- Giving lighting and MC work away. Uplighting is more gear to buy, carry and set up, and MC work means planning the night with the couple. Our template prices uplighting at $200 and MC services at $150 in the US.
- Leaving gear costs out of your rate. Speakers, lights and backup equipment wear out and need replacing, and every booking should pay a share of that.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- Should I charge per hour or per event?
- Charging per hour is easy to explain, and long nights pay more. A flat price per event is easier to sell to couples who want one number. Many DJs quote packages that are an hourly rate with the gear built in.
- How much deposit should a DJ take?
- Enough that a late cancellation doesn't cost you a date you could have sold to someone else. Many DJs take a deposit when the contract is signed and the balance a week or two before the event.
- How much should I charge for overtime?
- Agree the rate in the contract before the night, and check with the venue that it can run late. Many DJs charge their normal hourly rate for extra time, sold in half-hour or one-hour blocks.
- Should I charge a travel fee for gigs?
- Charge for travel past a set distance from home, and ask about access before you quote. Long walks from the car park, stairs and no lift all add time to loading in.
- How do I put my DJ prices on my website?
- Use a quote form instead of a fixed price list. A couple can pick a wedding, add ceremony sound and uplighting, and see the full price before they ask about your date. The DJ template comes with the prices on this page already filled in.