How to Choose the Right Christmas Crackers for Your Table

Christmas crackers are one of those things nobody thinks about until mid-December, and then suddenly everyone needs six of them by Thursday. Having spent years sourcing them, I've learned they're not all the same, and the right choice depends entirely on who's sitting round your table. Here's how to pick.

Start with size

Cracker size is the thing most people overlook, and it matters more than you'd expect because it dictates how much room you have on the table.

Mini saucer crackers, at 5 to 6 inches, sit neatly on a side plate or tuck into a napkin. They're lovely for a crowded table where a full-size cracker would be in the way, and they work beautifully for children's places or as a decorative touch on a tree or gift. Ours start at £6.95 for a pack of eight.

Large crackers, generally around 12 inches, are the traditional choice and what most people picture. They hold a proper gift and feel substantial when you pull them. Most of our range sits here, typically £19.95 to £21.95 for six.

Extra large 14 inch crackers are the showstoppers. If you're laying on a big Christmas dinner and want the table to look like an occasion, these are what do it. Expect around £25.95 for six.

Then think about who's pulling them

This is where the real decision is.

For a traditional, elegant table, classic designs never date. Think holly and berries, nutcrackers, gold and cream, or Scottish tartan. These suit a grown-up dinner where you want the table to look considered rather than novelty.

For families with children, the wind-up racing crackers are a genuine hit. Each one contains a little racing toy, a reindeer, a snowman, a penguin, a sausage dog, and the inevitable outcome is a race down the middle of the table before the turkey's even carved. If you've got children who go quiet after the paper hat, these fix that.

For a table that needs entertaining, game-filled crackers have changed things in the last few years. We stock Taskmaster crackers full of tasks to complete, Richard Osman's House of Games, and The 1% Club, all built around getting the whole table involved. They're brilliant for the lull between dinner and pudding, and especially good with a mixed-age family who don't all want to play charades.

For something a bit different, musical crackers each contain a hand bell or chime bar tuned to a different note, so between you the table can actually play a carol. Chaotic, very funny, and a real memory-maker.

How many do you need?

One per person is the rule, but buy a couple spare. Someone always turns up unexpectedly, or someone always wants to pull more than one. Six packs suit most family dinners, while 12 packs make more sense for a larger gathering or if you want matching crackers across two tables. Packs of 12 usually work out cheaper per cracker too.

A few things worth knowing

Handmade crackers pull better. The snap is fitted properly and the finish is neater, which you notice when you're looking at them all through dinner.

Check what's inside before you buy. The gift is the difference between a cracker that gets remembered and one that gets binned with the wrapping paper. Wooden toys, useful gadgets, or a game beat a plastic keyring every time.

If you care about waste, look for eco-friendly options. Several of our designs use recyclable materials and skip the plastic entirely, which matters when you're throwing away 12 of them on Boxing Day.

Order earlier than you think. Crackers are bulky, popular, and the good designs sell out. Late November is comfortable. The week before Christmas is a gamble.

Still not sure?

Have a browse of our full Christmas cracker collection, or drop me an email at victoria@oneposhparty.co.uk and tell me who's coming to dinner. I'm always happy to point you at the right ones.