Catering pricing guides
Real numbers, free to read. The ranges come from the same tables our free calculators run. Read the guide, then run your own event. Want more? Browse the full catering article library or see how much catering costs by guest count.
Not sure what a term on someone else's quote means? The glossary of catering terms defines the ones that cost money. Not sure what your state lets you cook, or who issues your permit? Start at catering license requirements by state. And if you price one trade most weeks, there are pages for wedding caterers and BBQ caterers.
How much to charge, by guest count
How much to charge for catering for 25 guests (2026 numbers)
Realistic 2026 catering prices for 25 people: per-person and total ranges by service style, plus what actually moves the number.
How much to charge for catering for 50 guests (2026 numbers)
Realistic 2026 catering prices for 50 people: per-person and total ranges by service style, plus what actually moves the number.
How much to charge for catering for 75 guests (2026 numbers)
Realistic 2026 catering prices for 75 people: per-person and total ranges by service style, plus what actually moves the number.
How much to charge for catering for 100 guests (2026 numbers)
Realistic 2026 catering prices for 100 people: per-person and total ranges by service style, plus what actually moves the number.
Pricing & quoting, deeper
How much to charge for catering for 10 guests
A per-person range and a total for 10 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 15 guests
A per-person range and a total for 15 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 20 guests
A per-person range and a total for 20 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 30 guests
A per-person range and a total for 30 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 40 guests
A per-person range and a total for 40 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 60 guests
A per-person range and a total for 60 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 80 guests
A per-person range and a total for 80 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 150 guests
A per-person range and a total for 150 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for catering for 200 guests
A per-person range and a total for 200 guests on a plated or buffet main with two sides, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for a taco bar for 50 guests
A per-person range and a total for 50 guests on a build-your-own taco bar, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for a taco bar for 150 guests
A per-person range and a total for 150 guests on a build-your-own taco bar, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for BBQ catering for 50 guests
A per-person range and a total for 50 guests on a pulled-pork and brisket BBQ spread, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for BBQ catering for 150 guests
A per-person range and a total for 150 guests on a pulled-pork and brisket BBQ spread, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for brunch catering for 50 guests
A per-person range and a total for 50 guests on a brunch buffet with eggs, bacon, fruit and pastries, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for brunch catering for 150 guests
A per-person range and a total for 150 guests on a brunch buffet with eggs, bacon, fruit and pastries, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for drop-off catering for 50 guests
A per-person range and a total for 50 guests on a drop-off sandwich and salad lunch, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How much to charge for drop-off catering for 150 guests
A per-person range and a total for 150 guests on a drop-off sandwich and salad lunch, from the calculator's own engine, with the deposit.
How to price a taco bar for 100
The most-requested quote in catering, itemized: realistic 2026 taco bar pricing for 100 guests, drop-off vs staffed, and the costs people forget.
Food cost percentage for caterers: the 28–35% rule
What the 28–35% food-cost rule really means for caterers, the worked math, and why labor and overhead decide whether a job actually pays you.
The catering quote template that wins jobs
The anatomy of a catering quote that books: itemized dishes, per-person and total pricing, a deposit line, an expiry date, and a way to say yes.
How to price corporate drop-off catering
Realistic 2026 pricing for corporate drop-off catering: per-person office-lunch ranges, order minimums and delivery, and the recurring-order math that pays.
Corporate catering minimums, delivery, and headcounts
How to set order minimums, delivery fees, and headcount cutoffs for corporate drop-off catering so recurring office lunches stay profitable, not just busy.
How to price a wedding catering package
Wedding catering pricing that holds up: plated vs buffet per-plate ranges, what tastings and rentals cost, and the deposit structure that protects the date.
Pricing custom wedding cakes and dessert tables
How to price custom wedding cakes and dessert tables by the serving: tiers, flavors, fillings, delivery, and where the real labor hides.
How to price BBQ catering per person
BBQ catering pricing done right: per person vs per pound, how the protein choice swings the range, buffet vs drop-off, and the sides and fuel people forget.
BBQ catering portions: how much meat per person
How much brisket, pulled pork, and chicken to cook per guest for BBQ, why raw-to-cooked yield changes the math, and how to turn pounds into a price.