How to Calculate Catering Costs

Catering ensures that your event's food will be tasty and plentiful.

Catering your party, wedding, event, or business meeting takes a big item off of your to-do list and ensures that the food will be tasty and plentiful. Your caterer will be in charge of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Many caterers also provide lunchbox food for events. Calculating catering costs can be figured with simple math. You can save money at your event by knowing how much a caterer is going to charge before hiring them.

Things You'll Need

• Guest list
• Calculator

Instructions

1. 

   Get a head count of expected guests before contacting caterers for price quotes.

   Determine the number of guests you are expecting. Use the highest estimate of guests that might attend so there is sure to be enough food.

2. Contact several caterers to get estimates. The caterers will tell you how much they charge per plate. Their prices may vary depending on how many people they are cooking for, how many courses you want served, and the types of dishes, if you have a preference. Make sure the estimate they provide includes all the food and beverages served. If the caterer is providing a cake--wedding or otherwise--there may be an added cost.

3. 

   Multiply the number of guests by the cost per plate.

   Multiply the two figures. For instance, if the caterer will charge $10 a plate and you are expecting 600 guests, then you would multiply 10 by 600 for the cost of catering. In this example, you should expect to pay $6,000 for catering.

Tips & Warnings

• Get estimates from at least three caterers.