How-to · Updated October 2, 2026
How much does catering cost for 100 guests?
Direct answer
A 100-guest buffet with $25 of food per person, a 20-mile trip, and a 20% margin is $5,088, or $50.88 per person.
Line items
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Food (100 × $25) | $2,500 |
| Chef and kitchen labor | $600 |
| Equipment (100 × $3) | $300 |
| Service staff (4 × $150) | $600 |
| Travel and setup (20 miles + $200) | $240 |
| Subtotal | $4,240 |
| Profit (20%) | $848 |
| Total | $5,088 |
Food is 59% of the subtotal. Kitchen labor plus servers is 28%.
The formula
Total = (food + kitchen labor + equipment + servers + travel and setup) × (1 + margin). Here that is $4,240 × 1.20 = $5,088.
| Margin on the same subtotal | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| 15% | $4,876 | $48.76 |
| 20% | $5,088 | $50.88 |
| 30% | $5,512 | $55.12 |
Limits
- Planning estimate, not a caterer’s quote. It leaves out sales tax, gratuity, a bar, and a cake.
- Kitchen labor for 51–100 guests is a flat $600. It steps to $800 above 100 guests and $1,200 above 200.
- Servers are $150 each for the event. A venue that requires its own caterer will not match this sheet.
Use the calculator
Compare styles and headcounts: catering cost per person. Rebuild this quote in the catering cost estimator.