Grange Display Calculator
Your expert tool for winning the Stardew Valley Fair and earning 1,000 Star Tokens!
Enter Your 9 Items
Input the Base Sell Price, Quality, and Category for each of your nine items to calculate your potential score.
Your Calculated Score
56
Item Points
30
Category Bonus
14
Participation Points
What is a Grange Display Calculator?
A grange display calculator is a specialized tool for players of the game Stardew Valley. It helps players strategically select the best nine items to showcase at the Stardew Valley Fair, an annual in-game event. The goal is to maximize the points awarded by the judge, Mayor Lewis, to win first place and receive 1,000 Star Tokens. This calculator removes the guesswork by applying the game’s exact scoring formula, considering item value, quality, and category diversity.
This tool is essential for anyone looking to beat Pierre, who often wins the contest. By planning your display, you can ensure victory even in your first year. A good score depends on a mix of high-value items and broad category representation. For help with finding the best items, see our Stardew Valley Fair Guide.
The Grange Display Scoring Formula
The total score is a sum of four components: a base participation score, points for the number of items, individual item scores, and a category diversity bonus. The formula is:
Total Score = 14 (Base) + Item Count Points + Σ(Item Scores) + Category Bonus
Item Score: Each item receives points based on its base sell price and quality. The price-based score is capped, making quality and variety crucial. An Iridium quality item is worth more than a normal one.
Category Bonus: You receive 5 points for each unique category represented in your display, for up to 6 categories (maximum of 30 bonus points). Submitting items from seven or eight categories provides no extra benefit over six.
| Variable | Meaning | Unit / Type | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Sell Price | The item’s non-modified sale price in gold. | Gold (g) | 20g – 3,000g+ |
| Quality | The star rating of an item. | (Normal, Silver, Gold, Iridium) | Adds 0 to 4 points per item. |
| Category | The item’s type (e.g., Fish, Mineral). | 8 unique types | 5 bonus points each, up to 6 types. |
| Final Score | The total points awarded by the judge. | Points | 0 – 125+ (90 required for 1st) |
Practical Examples
Example 1: Year 1 Winner
A well-balanced, achievable display for a first-year player.
- Inputs:
- Gold Star Pumpkin (Vegetable, 320g)
- Gold Star Largemouth Bass (Fish, 100g)
- Diamond (Mineral, 750g)
- Fairy Rose Honey (Artisan Good, 680g)
- Large Milk (Gold Star, Animal Product, 190g)
- Chanterelle (Gold Star, Forage, 160g)
- Apple (Gold Star, Fruit, 100g)
- Spaghetti (Cooking, 120g)
- Amethyst (Mineral, 100g)
- Analysis: This display features 8 unique categories, easily securing the maximum 30-point category bonus. The high-value Diamond and Fairy Rose Honey contribute significant item points. Even though there are two minerals, the variety is excellent.
- Result: This display would likely score well over 100 points, securing a comfortable first-place victory. To optimize further, check out our guide on the Best Grange Items.
Example 2: Common Mistake (Low Variety)
A display focused only on high-value, but similar, items.
- Inputs:
- 9 Iridium Star Starfruit
- Analysis: While each Iridium Starfruit is worth a lot of points individually (8 points each, for 72 item points), they all belong to the “Fruit” category. This means the display only gets a 5-point bonus for one category.
- Result: The total score would be 14 (base) + 72 (items) + 5 (category) = 91 points. This just barely wins first place, but it’s a risky strategy that leaves no room for error. A more diverse selection is always safer. Learning about how to be a Stardew Fair winner involves balancing value and variety.
How to Use This Grange Display Calculator
- Gather Your Items: Collect the nine items you are considering for your display.
- Enter Item Details: For each of the nine slots in the calculator, enter the item’s base sell price, its quality (Normal, Silver, Gold, or Iridium), and select its correct category from the dropdown menu.
- Calculate Score: Click the “Calculate Score” button. The calculator instantly processes the information.
- Review Results: The tool will display your total projected score, your prize ranking, and a breakdown of points from items versus the category bonus.
- Analyze the Chart: Use the bar chart to visually understand where your points are coming from. If the “Category Bonus” is low, try swapping items to increase variety. If “Item Points” are low, consider using higher-quality or more valuable items. For more strategies, read our fishing strategy guide for high-value fish.
Key Factors That Affect Your Score
- Category Diversity: This is the most important factor after filling all nine slots. Aim for at least 6 unique categories out of the 8 possible (Animal Products, Artisan Goods, Cooking, Fish, Foraging, Fruits, Minerals, Vegetables).
- Item Quality: Higher quality always means more points. An Iridium quality item gives 3 more points than a normal quality version of the same item. Prioritize Gold or Iridium.
- Base Sell Price: More expensive items are generally better, but this has diminishing returns. An item with a base price of 400g gives the same number of price-based points as one worth 2,000g.
- Filling All 9 Slots: Never leave a slot empty. An empty slot means you get fewer points than even putting a piece of trash in it. Always submit a full grange of nine items.
- Artisan Goods: Many artisan goods like Wine, Cheese, and Cloth have very high base values, making them excellent choices for maximizing item points. Check our artisan goods prices to plan ahead.
- Legendary Fish: While valuable, Legendary Fish cannot be of Iridium quality, capping their potential. A high-value, Iridium quality non-legendary fish might be a better choice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How many points do I need to win first place?
You need a minimum of 90 points to secure first place and the 1,000 Star Token prize.
2. Is it better to use 9 high-value items of the same type or 9 varied items of lower value?
Variety is almost always better. The 30-point bonus from having 6 unique categories is a huge boost that is difficult to overcome with item value alone.
3. What are the 8 scoring categories?
Animal Product, Artisan Good, Cooking, Fish, Foraging, Fruit, Mineral, and Vegetable.
4. Do I get my items back after the judging?
Yes, all nine of your items can be collected from the display stand after Mayor Lewis has announced the winner. Don’t forget to pick them up!
5. Can I win in my first year?
Absolutely. It requires some planning, but by saving one high-quality item from each category throughout the year, a first-year win is very achievable. Focus on getting six categories represented.
6. What happens if I put Mayor Lewis’s shorts in the display?
You will be disqualified, but Mayor Lewis will give you 750 Star Tokens as a bribe to keep quiet. This is a quick way to get tokens if you don’t care about winning legitimately.
7. Does the arrangement of items in the 3×3 grid matter?
No, the placement of items in the display has no effect on the score.
8. What’s the maximum possible score?
With a perfect selection of 9 high-value, iridium-quality items across 6+ categories, scores can reach up to 125 points.