Vendor cost guide
How much does a wedding caterer cost?
A wedding caterer costs an estimated $85 per person on average in 2026, with typical prices running from $60 to $130 per person. These are national averages, not quotes.
Quick answer
Wedding catering averages about $85 per person, with most menus running $60–$130 per person depending on service style and menu — about $9,900 total for a 117-guest wedding. National-average estimates, not quotes.
| Tier | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $60 per person | A buffet or food stations around $60 per person, with standard menu choices and lighter staffing. |
| Typical | $85 per person | A plated dinner or premium buffet around $85 per person with full service staff, china, and a tasting. |
| High-end | $130+ per person | A multi-course plated dinner at $130+ per person with premium menu options and elevated staffing. |
What drives the price
- Guest count — catering is the clearest per-person cost at a wedding.
- Service style: plated dinners need more staff than buffets or stations.
- Menu choices — premium proteins and late-night snacks raise the per-person price.
- Staffing, rentals, and service fees (often 20–25%) layered on top of the menu price.
- Whether bar service is bundled or contracted separately.
Ways to save
- Choose a buffet, stations, or family-style service instead of a formal plated dinner.
- Trim the guest list — every seat carries the full per-person price.
- Limit passed appetizers to the cocktail hour's first pass and skip the extra course.
- Read the contract for service charges and cake-cutting or corkage fees before signing.
See how a wedding caterer fits alongside every other category with the wedding budget calculator — enter your total budget and guest count for a category-by-category plan.
Tipping: Catering staff are customarily tipped 15–20% — check whether the service charge on your contract already covers gratuity. Work out exact amounts with the vendor tip calculator or the vendor tip guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a wedding caterer cost?
Wedding catering averages about $85 per person, with most menus running $60–$130 per person depending on service style and menu — about $9,900 total for a 117-guest wedding. National-average estimates, not quotes.
What percentage of a wedding budget goes to catering?
The standard budget template allocates about 25% to catering and drinks — roughly $8,500 of the $34,000 national average. At the $85-per-person average, full-service catering often lands closer to 30%, so 25–30% is a realistic range.
Does the catering price include the bar?
Usually not — alcohol and bartending are typically quoted separately, adding about $15–$30 per guest for an open bar. Ask whether bar packages, corkage, and bartender staffing are bundled or billed on top.
Is a buffet cheaper than a plated dinner?
Often $5–$15 per person cheaper, mostly from lower staffing — but not always, since buffets require more total food volume. Get both quoted; family-style service is a popular middle option.
Other vendor costs
Last reviewed June 2026 by Jared Waterworth. Estimates use widely accepted wedding-planning rules of thumb — see how we estimate. Numbers vary by region, season, and vendor, so verify before you book or buy.