{
    "name": "Wedding Catering Cost Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/wedding-catering-cost-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/wedding-catering-cost-calculator.md",
    "category": "Food & hospitality",
    "description": "Estimate a wedding catering bill from per-guest food and drink prices, service staff, rentals, service charge and tax, with the true cost per guest.",
    "summary": "Caterers quote per guest, but the bill also carries staff, rentals, a service charge and tax. Add them up here to see the full total and what each guest really costs.",
    "also_called": [
        "Wedding food budget calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "guests",
            "label": "Number of guests",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "100",
            "unit": "guests"
        },
        {
            "name": "food_per_guest",
            "label": "Food price per guest",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "45"
        },
        {
            "name": "drinks_per_guest",
            "label": "Drinks package per guest",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "20",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "staff",
            "label": "Service staff",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "8",
            "unit": "people",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "staff_hours",
            "label": "Hours per staff member",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "6",
            "unit": "h",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "staff_rate",
            "label": "Staff rate per hour",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "25",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "fixed",
            "label": "Rentals and other fixed charges",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1500",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "service_pct",
            "label": "Service charge on food and drink",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "18",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "tax_pct",
            "label": "Sales tax or VAT",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "8",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total",
            "label": "Total catering cost",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "per_guest",
            "label": "Cost per guest, all-in",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "food_total",
            "label": "Food",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "drinks_total",
            "label": "Drinks",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "staff_total",
            "label": "Service staff",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "service_charge",
            "label": "Service charge",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "tax",
            "label": "Tax",
            "format": "currency"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Subtotal = Guests × (Food + Drinks) + Staff × Hours × Rate + Fixed;  Service = Guests × (Food + Drinks) × Service%;  Tax = (Subtotal + Service) × Tax%;  Total = Subtotal + Service + Tax",
        "variables": {
            "Service%": "service charge applied to food and drink",
            "Tax%": "tax applied to everything including the service charge"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "guests": "100",
            "food_per_guest": "45",
            "drinks_per_guest": "20",
            "staff": "8",
            "staff_hours": "6",
            "staff_rate": "25",
            "fixed": "1500",
            "service_pct": "18",
            "tax_pct": "8",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Food and drink = 100 × ($45 + $20) = $6,500.",
            "Staff = 8 × 6 × $25 = $1,200; subtotal with $1,500 rentals = $9,200.",
            "Service charge = 18% × $6,500 = $1,170.",
            "Tax = 8% × ($9,200 + $1,170) = $829.60; total $11,199.60, or $112 per guest."
        ],
        "result": "A $45 + $20 per-head quote becomes $11,199.60 in total, about $112 per guest."
    },
    "interpretation": "The all-in cost per guest is usually far above the per-head menu price. Use it to compare quotes like for like and to see what each extra guest adds.",
    "assumptions": [
        "The service charge applies to food and drink only, and tax applies to the whole bill including the service charge. Check how your caterer and local rules treat each."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Gratuities for staff, if expected, are not included.",
        "Children’s or vendor meals at different prices should be added to fixed charges."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "Is the service charge a tip?",
            "answer": "Not necessarily. Many caterers keep it to cover operating costs, so ask whether any of it goes to the staff."
        },
        {
            "question": "Is tax charged on the service charge?",
            "answer": "In many places it is, but rules differ. If not in your case, reduce the tax figure accordingly."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Event Ticket Revenue Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/event-ticket-revenue-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Tip Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/tip-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Conference Venue Capacity Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/conference-venue-capacity-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Catering Budget Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/catering-budget-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}