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Catering price calculator

The catering price calculator prices one catering job. Type the guests, the food cost of each menu line for one guest, staff hours, delivery and rentals, a share of your overhead and the margin you want. It shows the price per guest, the total with sales tax, the deposit and what the same menu costs per guest if the headcount changes.

Time: 10 min
Updated: 20 Oct 2026

Price an event

Open the catering price calculator. It is free, needs no sign-up and works on a phone.

Step 1: Set the event

Under 1. The event pick the Currency and type the number of Guests.

Step 2: Cost the food per guest

Under 2. Food cost per guest type each menu line and what one guest's portion costs you. Press Add a menu line for more, the bin to remove one, and fill in Disposables and extras per guest.

Step 3: Add labor and other costs

Under 3. Labor and other costs type the Staff, Hours each and Cost an hour, then Delivery and rentals and your Overhead share for the job.

Step 4: Set the margin and read the price

Under 4. Margin, tax and deposit set Profit margin, Sales tax, Deposit and Target food cost. Your catering price shows the price per guest, a cost table, the food-cost check and If the headcount changes. Press Copy the result, or Back to the example to start again.

Good to knowThe margin is a share of the price before tax, so a 20% margin on a $1,200 cost gives $1,500. Sales tax rules for catering differ by state; type your own rate or leave it at 0. To send the price to a client, put it into the catering quote maker. Your event stays in this browser and is not sent to us.

Questions

Why is the per-guest price higher for a smaller party?

Labor, delivery and overhead stay about the same, so they are shared by fewer guests. The calculator shows the price at 20% fewer and 20% more guests under If the headcount changes.

Can Menuthere take catering orders ahead of time?

Yes, as scheduled pre-orders from the Lite plan: customers pick a date and time with the notice you set. See Prebooking: scheduled orders and Dishes that need notice.

Can't find it? Email help@mail.menuthere.com or chat with us, 9 AM – 9 PM.Help center Pricing menuthere.com

Free toolsAll plans

Catering price calculator

Time: 10 min
Updated: 20 Oct 2026

Price an event

Open the catering price calculator. It is free, needs no sign-up and works on a phone.

Step 1: Set the event

Under 1. The event pick the Currency and type the number of Guests.

Step 2: Cost the food per guest

Step 3: Add labor and other costs

Under 3. Labor and other costs type the Staff, Hours each and Cost an hour, then Delivery and rentals and your Overhead share for the job.

Step 4: Set the margin and read the price

Questions

Why is the per-guest price higher for a smaller party?

Labor, delivery and overhead stay about the same, so they are shared by fewer guests. The calculator shows the price at 20% fewer and 20% more guests under If the headcount changes.

Can Menuthere take catering orders ahead of time?

Yes, as scheduled pre-orders from the Lite plan: customers pick a date and time with the notice you set. See Prebooking: scheduled orders and Dishes that need notice.

Can't find it? Email help@mail.menuthere.com or chat with us, 9 AM – 9 PM.Help center Pricing menuthere.com

Catering price calculator

Price an event

Step 1: Set the event

Step 2: Cost the food per guest

Step 3: Add labor and other costs

Step 4: Set the margin and read the price

Questions

Related

Catering price calculator

Price an event

Step 1: Set the event

Step 2: Cost the food per guest

Step 3: Add labor and other costs

Step 4: Set the margin and read the price

Questions

Related