Wedding Catering Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost of wedding catering. Enter the guest count and service style, catering is usually priced per head, and the style (canapes, buffet, or plated service) and staff and drinks drive the total.
Your wedding catering details
Above the typical range — usually premium options or a more complex job.
Waitstaff, chefs and service are often a separate line from the food cost, especially for plated service, which needs more staff than a buffet. Confirm whether staff are included in a per-head quote.
Wedding catering is priced per head, and the service style is the biggest lever, canapes and buffets are cheaper than plated service. Staff, drinks and dessert are often separate, so compare fully-inclusive per-head figures.
💰 Ways to save
- A buffet or shared-feast style is cheaper than plated service and still generous.
- Trim the guest list, catering is per head, so every guest is a direct cost.
- Clarify what the per-head price includes, staff, drinks and dessert are often extra.
or from $45/week over 5 years , indicative finance
How we estimate this
Wedding catering in Australia typically costs around $80 to $130 per head in 2026 for plated service, with canapes and buffets cheaper and premium multi-course service higher. Waitstaff, drinks and dessert are often separate, so an 80-guest wedding is often $8,000 to $15,000 all up.
Pricing reviewed: November 2026.
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Pricing reviewed November 2026. Indicative Australian costs, not a quote.
Understanding wedding catering costs in Australia
Wedding catering in Australia typically costs around $80 to $130 per head in 2026 for plated service, with canapes and buffets cheaper and premium multi-course service higher. Waitstaff, drinks and dessert are often separate, so an 80-guest wedding is often $8,000 to $15,000 all up.
Catering is priced per head, and the service style drives most of the cost, plated service needs more food and staff than a buffet or canapes. Staff and drinks are frequently separate lines, so compare fully-inclusive per-head figures between caterers.
Frequently asked questions
How much does wedding catering cost per head in Australia?
Roughly $80 to $130 per head in 2026 for plated service, less for buffets and canapes, more for premium multi-course. Staff, drinks and dessert are often extra.
What is the cheapest wedding catering style?
Canape / cocktail and buffet styles are cheaper per head than plated service, which needs more food and more staff. A grazing or shared-feast style is a generous middle ground.
Are you a wedding caterer?
Everyone on this page is working out what wedding catering costs because they are ready to hire. Put your business right beneath the calculator, in your state, so you are who they find. From $50/mo.