How much does wedding catering cost per person?
Couples paid $80 per person for wedding catering on average, according to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study. Plated dinners cost the most and heavy hors d’oeuvres the least. Plan 4–6 appetizers per guest per hour of cocktail hour and about 6–8 oz of protein per guest. Enter your numbers below.
Your catering estimate
Questions planners ask
How much does wedding catering cost per person?
The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study puts the average at $80 per person. Zola’s ranges by service style run from $35–$55 for heavy hors d’oeuvres to $65–$85 for a plated dinner, with buffet, family style and stations in between. Region, menu and staffing move the number most, so enter your caterer’s quote above once you have it.
How many appetizers do I need per guest?
A common rule of thumb is 4 to 6 passed pieces per guest for each hour of cocktail hour; this calculator plans for 5. If hors d’oeuvres replace dinner, one New York caterer suggests 12 to 15 bites per guest, so the heavy hors d’oeuvres option adds 12 per guest on top of cocktail hour.
How much protein and sides per guest?
Plan about 6 ounces of protein per guest for a plated dinner and 8 ounces for buffet, family style or stations, because guests serve themselves and take more. Most receptions have two or three sides at 4 to 6 ounces each, plus about a cup of salad per guest.
How many cake slices do I need?
Plan one slice per guest. Not everyone eats cake after a full meal, so this leaves a little extra. If you’re serving from a small display cake, a kitchen sheet cake is a common way to cover the rest of the count for less.
Sources
- The Knot, “The Average Wedding Cost” (2026 Real Weddings Study, couples married in 2025)
- Zola, “Wedding Catering Costs: Real Numbers and Budget Tips” (cost per person by service style)
- WebstaurantStore, “A Guide to Catering Portion Sizes” (appetizers per hour, protein, sides)
- WeddingWire, “Exactly How Much Food to Serve at Your Wedding” (protein, sides, salad, cake)
- Here Comes The Guide, “Brides Want to Know: Hors d’oeuvre Dilemma” (bites when appetizers replace dinner)
Cost ranges are national averages per person; bar service is priced separately, and tax, gratuity and rentals vary by caterer. Stations use the buffet portion of 8 oz protein per guest.