How Much Does a Toddler Birthday Party Actually Cost in LA? A Real Breakdown
If you've started pricing out birthday venues in LA, you've probably noticed that the sticker price is rarely the real price.
A venue MIGHT advertise "$400 parties," and by the time you've paid for extra guests, extra time, decorations, sales tax, mandatory gratuitiy (ugh) and the mandatory cleaning fee that NOBODY mentioned up front (double ugh), you're closer to $900- and that’s probably just for a 2 hour event (We start at 3 hours, to make sure you’ve got plenty of time to actually enjoy things).
We'd rather just tell you everything up front.
We also only require a minimal deposit to hold the date and time, and are flexible with cancellations and rescheduling, unlike many other spaces. (Hey, I’m a parent too- I get that plans involving kids can change at a moments’ notice)
Here's a full, honest breakdown of what a birthday party at PlayLab actually costs — base price and every optional add-on — so you can budget accurately before you book.
The base package
We offer three time blocks, and the price is the same whether you're celebrating a 1st birthday or a 4th:
3 hours — $500
3.5 hours — $600
4 hours — $700
A $100 deposit holds your date and time; the rest is due before (or at) your party. All three packages include 40 guests (kids and adults combined), which covers most toddler parties comfortably.
What's actually included for that price
This is the part a lot of venues leave vague. At PlayLab, your package includes:
Exclusive use of the entire space — no other visitors, no sharing
A dedicated PlayLab team member with you the whole time
Tables and chairs
A fridge and freezer (handy for cake or anything that needs to stay cold)
Toys throughout the space
Our Party Planning Tool, to map out layout and decor in advance
A Bluetooth speaker
At Eagle Rock: pop-up canopy tents for rain or heat backup
Setup and cleanup are on us — you don't pay extra for either.
Where costs can go up
More than 40 guests. You can host up to 60 people for an additional $10 per person over the 40 included. Worth counting your realistic headcount (including grown-ups) before you book, so there are no surprises.
More time. If 3 hours isn't enough, each additional 30 minutes is $100, and you can even add it on the day of your party if the schedule allows.
Add-ons. None of these are required, but they're the ones most parents end up adding:
Add-onCostCoffee & tea station (unlimited coffee, cups, lids, creamers, sweeteners)$40 flatTablecloth rental (per table)$5Custom balloon garland (in-house, any color)$20/foot — most garlands run 6–8 ft, so $120–$160 total
Beyond that, the Party Store also has balloon towers, marquee letters and numbers, backdrops, bubble machines, a movie projector, and more, priced individually — worth a browse if you want to see everything.
A realistic example budget
Say you're planning a 25-guest, 1st birthday party, 3 hours, with a balloon garland and a coffee station for the grown-ups:
Base package (3 hrs, 25 guests, under the 40 limit): $500
Coffee & tea station: $40
Balloon garland (6-8 ft): $120- $160
Tablecloths for 4 tables: $20
Total: ~$700
No cleaning fee, no "exclusive use" upcharge, no surprise invoice — what you see is what you pay. If you want to keep things simple, we can do that too- you don’t need to do much; a little bit of decorations goes a long way here.
Ready to book?
Check availability and book your date instantly online at our Eagle Rock or Hollywood location. Questions about pricing or what's included? Email us at events@goplaylab.com or call (323) 616-3585 (Eagle Rock) or (213) 676-2596 (Hollywood).
