Catering cost calculator
Catering food typically costs between €14 (business lunch) and €85 (plated menu) per person in Germany. 100 % organic adds roughly 20 to 35 %, with staff, drinks and tableware on top. Enter your details to see the range for your event.
Your estimated range
- per person
Total: - ( guests)
Estimates incl. VAT based on typical caterer price lists in German cities (as of Oct 2026), not quotes. Many caterers bill drinks, staff and equipment separately; minimum orders, season and region can differ considerably.
Transparency
Every assumption behind the calculator
Food price = base price of the menu type × occasion × organic share × diet × guest-count factor. Lower and upper bounds are calculated separately; extras are added on top. All values incl. VAT, as of Oct 2026.
Base food price per person
| Finger food | 18 - 32 € |
| Buffet (cold/hot) | 28 - 50 € |
| Flying buffet | 38 - 65 € |
| Plated menu (3 courses) | 45 - 85 € |
| Barbecue | 28 - 48 € |
| Business lunch | 14 - 26 € |
| Brunch | 22 - 38 € |
Conventional ingredients, 50 to 149 guests.
Factors
| Occasion: Corporate event | ±0 % |
| Occasion: Wedding | +10 % to +20 % |
| Occasion: Private party | -5 % to ±0 % |
| Occasion: Conference / meeting | ±0 % |
| Conventional | ±0 % |
| Partly organic (approx. 30%) | +10 % to +15 % |
| 100% organic | +20 % to +35 % |
| Mixed (with meat/fish) | ±0 % |
| Vegetarian | -10 % to ±0 % |
| Vegan | -10 % to +5 % |
| up to 19 guests | +20 % |
| 20 - 49 guests | +5 % |
| 50 - 149 guests | ±0 % |
| 150+ guests | -8 % |
Extras
| Drinks package | 15 - 30 € per person |
| Service staff per hour and person | 30 - 45 € |
| Staffing ratio | 1 server per 20 guests (buffet), per 12 (plated), per 25 (finger food) |
| Rental tableware / reusables | 3 - 7 € per person |
| Delivery / logistics (flat) | 50 - 150 € |
Read on
- How much does organic catering cost?
- Finger food, buffet or plated dinner?
- Planning quantities per person
- Vegan wedding catering
Got your range, need a caterer?
Search the directory by city or ask us for suitable caterers.
Calculator FAQ
How accurate is the calculator?
It gives a realistic range, not a quote. Values are based on typical caterer price lists in German cities (as of Oct 2026). Actual quotes depend on menu, season, region, minimum order and on-site effort.
Why is catering for few guests more expensive per head?
Delivery, set-up, equipment and minimum staff cost the same regardless of guest numbers. Below 20 guests these fixed costs are spread over few people, so the calculator adds 20 %.
Is vegan catering cheaper?
Not necessarily. Plant-based ingredients are often cheaper, but labour and staff stay the same. The calculator therefore uses a range from 10 % cheaper to 5 % more expensive for vegan.
Are drinks included?
No, food prices exclude drinks. You can add a drinks package as an extra (€15 to €30 per person for about 4 to 5 hours).
Are my inputs stored?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is sent or stored.