Wedding & Events / Wedding Vendor Costs
Catering Cost Per Person Calculator
Event Details
Service Style
Meal Details
Bar Service
Additional Services
Catering Cost Guide
Average Cost Per Person:
- Breakfast/Brunch: $15-$30/person
- Lunch: $25-$50/person
- Dinner (3 courses): $35-$75/person
- Dinner (plated, 4+ courses): $50-$150/person
What's Typically Included:
- Food preparation and service
- Setup and cleanup
- Basic serving equipment
- Professional staff (servers, bartenders)
Additional Costs to Consider:
- Service fees and taxes (varies by state)
- Cake cutting fee ($1-3/person)
- Specialty linens or upgrades
- Late-night snack service
- Vendor meals
Tip: Most caterers require 18-22% gratuity. Some include this in their pricing, others add it separately. Always clarify what's included in your quote.
Use this catering cost per person calculator to compute wedding vendor costs results from your inputs.
Formula
Food & beverage subtotal = (Food + Beverage) × Guest count Service charge = Subtotal × Service charge % Gratuity = Subtotal × Gratuity % Total catering = Subtotal + Service charge + Gratuity + Rentals + Cake cutting fee Final per person = Total catering / Guest count