How much to charge for catering
Updated 26 September 2026
Most caterers quote a price per guest, set by the menu and the style of service, then add bar service, hire items and travel. Drop-off food costs the least per head. Plated service costs the most, because it needs the most staff.
Example catering prices
| Job | US | UK | Australia | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drop-off lunch for 30 office staff | $850 – $1,030 | £730 – £880 | A$1,330 – A$1,610 | CA$1,090 – CA$1,320 |
| Buffet for an 80-guest birthday party, with tables, linen and crockery | $2,930 – $3,540 | £2,510 – £3,040 | A$4,600 – A$5,570 | CA$3,760 – CA$4,550 |
| Plated wedding dinner for 120 guests, with bar service, tables, linen and crockery | $7,110 – $8,610 | £6,090 – £7,380 | A$11,170 – A$13,530 | CA$9,140 – CA$11,070 |
Priced with the starting rates in our catering 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 caterers set their prices
Per guest
A price per head for the menu and service style. Clients can budget with it, and the total rises with every guest they add. Add a minimum guest count or minimum spend so small parties still pay for a full prep day.
Food plus service costs
Food priced per guest, with staff hours and hire items listed as separate lines. It takes longer to quote, but you're covered when an event runs late or needs extra hands.
Set menus
Fixed prices for set menus, like a finger food package or a three-course dinner. They're quick to quote, and you can buy and prep for them in bulk.
Sample catering 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guests, per guest | $35 | £30 | A$55 | CA$45 |
| Service style: Drop-off | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% | Save 15% |
| Service style: Plated & served | +35% | +35% | +35% | +35% |
| Bar service | +20% | +20% | +20% | +20% |
| Tables, linen & crockery | +10% | +10% | +10% | +10% |
| 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 catering quote form with the prices above. Try it as a customer would, then start from these prices and change any of them.
Harvest Table Catering
Catering estimate
Pricing mistakes to avoid
- Pricing from the food cost alone. Shopping, prep, cooking, driving, serving and washing up are all paid hours, and together they can cost more than the ingredients.
- Charging plated service at buffet prices. Serving each course to the table takes more staff and more time. Our template adds 35% for plated service and takes 15% off for drop-off.
- Leaving guest numbers open until the day. Set a date for final numbers in your contract, and charge for the confirmed count even if fewer people turn up.
- Saying yes to tiny events at your per-guest price. A dinner for 12 still needs a shopping trip and a full prep day. Our template has a $500 minimum in the US.
Not sure what your time is worth? Work out your hourly rate with the pricing calculator, then check your job prices cover it.
Questions
- How do I work out my price per person?
- Start with the food cost per guest from your recipes. Add your labour and travel for the event, divided by the number of guests, then put your margin on top.
- How much deposit should a caterer take?
- Enough to cover the food and hire items you pay for in advance, and the other bookings you lose by holding the date. Many caterers take a deposit to confirm and the balance shortly before the event, once final numbers are in.
- Should I charge for staff separately?
- It suits plated dinners and long events, where staff hours change from job to job. For drop-off and simple buffets, building staff into the per-guest price keeps the quote easy to read.
- How should I price bar service?
- Many caterers charge per guest for a set number of hours, or bill the drinks actually served plus a fee for bar staff. Our template adds 20% to the bill as a simple starting point. Check your local rules on serving alcohol before you offer it.
- How do I put catering prices on my website?
- A quote form works well for per-guest pricing. Clients enter their guest count and service style and see an estimate range before they send you their date. Our catering template shows 5% below to 15% above the estimate, since menus and numbers often change after the first enquiry.