Catering Pricing Per Person: 2026 Rates & How to Price

Pricing catering is where good caterers make money and great caterers get rich. Get it wrong and you either lose jobs or lose money on every plate. Here is how catering pricing per person actually works.

Average catering rates per person in 2026

Beverage-only service: $5 to $15 per person
Finger foods and appetizers: $15 to $30 per person
Boxed or buffet lunch: $12 to $25 per person
Plated dinner: $30 to $60 per person
Premium multi-course with service: $60 to $150 per person

The golden formula

A healthy catering menu prices at 3 times your food cost. If ingredients for a plated dish cost $8, charge at least $24. Then add:

Staffing at $20 to $45 per hour per server
Rentals (plates, linens, glassware) passed through with a 10-15% margin
Delivery and setup fees
A 15-20% contingency for overruns

Why caterers lose money

Underestimating labor hours for setup and cleanup
Forgetting rental delivery and pickup fees
Charging one flat price for different dietary versions of a dish
Not including travel time and fuel

Pricing by event type

Corporate lunch: $15-$28 per person
Wedding buffet: $25-$45 per person
Wedding plated: $45-$100 per person
Festival catering booth: $10-$20 per person
Private dinner party: $35-$80 per person

How to quote a job correctly

Confirm the headcount and service style
Ask about dietary requirements early
Write a menu with clear inclusions and exclusions
State what is NOT included: rentals, staffing, delivery, tax
Require a deposit (often 30-50%) before confirming

Final advice

Never quote from the hip. Use a standard catering pricing sheet so every job is profitable. Adjust rates for holidays and weekends, when your demand is highest.