Stardew Fair Calculator
Plan your perfect Grange Display to win 1st Place at the Stardew Valley Fair!
Grange Display Items
Enter details for the 9 items in your display. For best results, use a variety of high-quality, high-value items from at least six different categories.
What is the Stardew Fair Calculator?
The Stardew Fair Calculator is a specialized tool designed for players of the popular farming simulation game, Stardew Valley. It helps you strategically select the nine best items for your Grange Display at the annual Stardew Valley Fair event, which occurs on Fall 16. By inputting the sell price, quality, and category of each item, the calculator computes your total score based on the in-game scoring formula. This allows you to optimize your display to beat your rival, Pierre, and secure the 1st place prize of 1,000 Star Tokens.
This tool is essential for anyone serious about winning the fair, especially in the first year when resources are limited. Instead of guessing, you can make data-driven decisions to ensure your hard-earned produce, artisan goods, and minerals give you the highest possible score.
Stardew Fair Score Formula and Explanation
Your final score at the Stardew Valley Fair is determined by a clear formula. Understanding it is the key to victory. The total score is the sum of four components:
Each component is explained below.
Formula Variables
| Variable | Meaning | Points Value | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Points | A fixed score awarded for simply participating. | 14 points | 14 (fixed) |
| Item Count Points | Points awarded for filling all nine slots in the display. | 9 points for 9 items | -9 to 9 |
| Category Bonus | A bonus for showcasing a variety of item types. | 30 points for 6+ unique categories | 0 to 30 |
| Total Item Points | The sum of points from each of the 9 individual items, based on their value and quality. | Up to 8 points per item | 0 to 72 |
Practical Examples
Example 1: A Strong Year 1 Display (Score: 104)
This is an achievable but very strong display for a player at the end of their first year. It focuses on hitting the category bonus and using high-quality, high-value items.
- Item 1: Pumpkin (Vegetable), Gold Quality, 320g -> 7 points
- Item 2: Goat Cheese (Artisan Good), Gold Quality, 600g -> 8 points
- Item 3: Diamond (Mineral), Normal Quality, 750g -> 8 points
- Item 4: Fairy Rose (Foraging/Flower), Gold Quality, 435g -> 8 points
- Item 5: Melon (Fruit), Gold Quality, 375g -> 7 points
- Item 6: Large Goat Milk (Animal Product), Iridium Quality, 690g -> 8 points
- Item 7: Super Cucumber (Fish), Iridium Quality, 500g -> 8 points
- Item 8: Pink Cake (Cooking), Normal Quality, 480g -> 8 points
- Item 9: Amaranth (Vegetable), Gold Quality, 225g -> 7 points
Calculation: 14 (Base) + 9 (9 Items) + 30 (7 Categories) + 69 (Item Points) = 122 Total Points. This is a guaranteed 1st place!
Example 2: A Common Beginner’s Display (Score: 65)
A new player might focus only on quality without considering variety. This display fails to get the crucial category bonus.
- Item 1-9: 9x Gold Quality Corn (Vegetable), 75g each -> 9 x 3 points = 27 points
Calculation: 14 (Base) + 9 (9 Items) + 0 (1 Category) + 27 (Item Points) = 50 Total Points. This would only earn 4th place and 50 Star Tokens.
How to Use This Stardew Fair Calculator
- Gather Your Items: In the game, collect the 9 items you are considering for your display.
- Enter Item Details: For each of the 9 rows in the calculator, enter the item’s Base Sell Price (the value shown in your inventory). You can often find this information in a Stardew Valley gift guide, which often lists item prices.
- Select Quality: Use the dropdown menu to select the quality of each item: Normal, Silver, Gold, or Iridium.
- Choose the Category: Select the correct category for each item from the dropdown list. Accuracy here is critical for the category bonus.
- Calculate Score: Click the “Calculate Score” button. The calculator will instantly show your total projected score, along with a breakdown of points from items and bonuses.
- Interpret the Results: A score of 90 or higher is required for 1st place. Use the item points chart to see which items are your strongest and weakest links. Adjust your selection and recalculate until you have a winning combination.
Key Factors That Affect Your Grange Score
- 1. Category Variety
- This is arguably the most important factor. You get a massive 30-point bonus for having items from at least 6 of the 8 possible categories. Neglecting variety is the most common reason for failure. A good Stardew Valley fishing guide can help you find high-value fish for that category.
- 2. Item Quality
- Quality adds a flat point bonus. Iridium quality adds 3 points, Gold adds 2, and Silver adds 1. Always prioritize higher-quality versions of your items.
- 3. Item Base Sell Price
- The base price of an item determines its base point value, ranging from 0 to 6 points. High-value items like gems, aged artisan goods, or legendary fish provide a huge advantage. A Stardew Valley crop profit calculator can help you determine which crops will yield the highest sell prices.
- 4. Having Exactly 9 Items
- You receive 9 points for filling all 9 slots. You lose points for every empty slot. It’s always better to fill a slot with a low-value item than to leave it empty.
- 5. Artisan Goods Are King
- Items like Wine, Cheese, and Cloth often have some of the highest sell prices in the game, especially when aged or made from high-quality ingredients. They are a reliable way to get max points for an item slot.
- 6. Don’t Forget Forage and Minerals
- It’s easy to focus on farm-fresh goods, but don’t forget other categories. A high-quality flower or a valuable gem like a Diamond can easily secure 8 points and contribute to your category bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
You need a score of 90 or higher to win first place and earn 1,000 Star Tokens.
The eight categories are: Animal Products, Artisan Goods, Cooking, Fish, Foraging (includes flowers and tree saps), Fruits, Minerals, and Vegetables. You can find what category an item falls into using our universal gift finder tool.
Variety is more important up to a point. Securing the 30-point bonus for having 6+ categories is crucial. After that, focus on maximizing the points for each individual slot with high-quality, high-value items.
No, you can easily win with a well-balanced display of Gold and Silver quality items. A diverse set of Gold quality items will almost always beat a display of 9 Iridium quality items from the same category.
Yes. After Mayor Lewis judges your display, you can pick up all 9 items and take them home. They are not consumed.
You will be disqualified, but Mayor Lewis will give you 750 Star Tokens as a “bribe” to keep quiet. This is a fun alternative to competing normally!
Indirectly, yes. Professions that increase an item’s sell price (like Tiller for crops or Angler for fish) will increase its base price. A higher base price means more points. You should enter the profession-boosted price into the calculator.
The theoretical maximum score is 125. This requires 9 items that are each worth the maximum 8 points (e.g., Iridium quality and a base price over 400g), and having at least 6 unique categories represented. Using a friendship level tracker can help you get recipes or items that contribute to this.
Related Tools and Internal Resources
If you found our stardew fair calculator useful, check out these other tools to master every aspect of your farm life:
- Crop Profit Calculator – Find out which crops make the most gold each season.
- Fish Finder Tool – A guide to catching every fish in the game, including season and weather.
- Community Center Guide – Track your bundles and plan what to gather next.
- Villager Gift Guide – Maximize your friendships with this complete guide to every villager’s loves and likes.
- Artisan Goods Calculator – Compare profits from Jellies, Wines, Cheeses and more.
- Ancient Seed & Rare Seed Guide – Learn how to find and cultivate the most valuable plants.