FREE TOOL
Catering Tip Calculator
How much to tip for a catering order depends on what the caterer does: drop it off, set it up, or staff the event. Choose the service and enter the bill; the calculator applies the published etiquette guidance, takes off any gratuity already on the bill, and splits the tip among the staff.
Suggested tip
$35
About 10% of the order, $5 or more
- Delivery driverAbout 10% of the order, $5 or more
- $35
Guidance from Emily Post.
Caterer? How to word service chargesHow Much to Tip for Catering
Etiquette guides agree on the shape: a small tip for a delivery, a per-person tip for the crew that sets up, and a percentage of the bill when staff serve the event. The calculator uses these figures; none of them is ours.
| Service | Guidance | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Drop-off delivery | Around 10% of the order, or $5 or more | Emily Post |
| Delivery and setup | $5 to $20 per person, depending on how complex the setup is | Here Comes The Guide, WeddingWire |
| Staffed event | 15% to 20% of the food and beverage bill, when the contract has no gratuity | WeddingWire, Here Comes The Guide |
| Wedding catering manager or head waiter | $100 to $300 each | Here Comes The Guide |
| Wedding waitstaff | About $20 each | WeddingWire, Here Comes The Guide |
| Wedding bartenders | 10% to 20% of the alcohol bill, if no gratuity is included (WeddingWire says 10% to 15% of the bar tab) | Here Comes The Guide |
The 15% to 20% for a staffed event comes from the wedding guides; it is also the range Emily Post gives for sit-down service. On a $2,000 food bill with no gratuity included, that is $300 to $400, or $75 to $100 each for four staff.
Service Charge, Gratuity, or Delivery Fee?
Read the bill before you tip. If it carries a charge labelled gratuity, that counts toward the tip, and the calculator only adds what is left to reach 15% to 20%. A service charge is different: Here Comes The Guide warns that unless the word gratuity is spelled out on the final bill, you may still need to tip. When in doubt, ask the caterer whether the charge goes to the staff.
A delivery fee pays the business for the delivery. Here Comes The Guide notes that you may already have paid one and still calls tipping the people who deliver and set up customary.
For Caterers: Service Charges and Tips on Your Quote
How you word the bill decides how the money is treated. The IRS says a payment is a tip only if the customer chooses to pay it and decides the amount. A mandatory service charge, including a required gratuity written into a contract or invoice, is not a tip; when you pay it out to employees it is generally treated as wages (IRS: Tip recordkeeping and reporting).
So decide what each line on the quote is for. A service charge that covers staffing goes through payroll as wages. An optional gratuity line, left for the customer to fill in, is a tip. Either way, name it plainly: customers who see a service charge often ask whether they still need to tip, and a clear answer on the quote saves the awkward moment at the end of the event.
Price delivery as its own line too, from what a drop-off costs you in driver time and miles, and How to start a catering business covers pricing the rest of the job. For deliveries you would rather hand off, see courier service for caterers.
Figures checked against their sources on .
Send Catering Without Tying Up Your Staff
Enter your kitchen and the event address to see what a courier charges for the drop-off.
- A price range in about a minute
- SUVs, minivans, and cargo vans
- One-off, scheduled, or repeating routes
CATERING TIP FAQ
Catering Tip Questions
How much do you tip for catering delivery?
For a drop-off, Emily Post’s delivery guidance is around 10% of the order, or $5 or more. If the driver also sets up, the wedding guides suggest $5 to $20 per person, depending on how much setup there is.
How much should you tip a caterer?
For a staffed event, WeddingWire and Here Comes The Guide suggest 15% to 20% of the food and beverage bill when the contract does not already include a gratuity. Split it among the staff or hand it to the catering manager to distribute.
Do you tip caterers if there is a service charge?
Check whether the charge is labelled gratuity. If it is, it counts toward the tip, and a gratuity of 15% to 20% covers it. Here Comes The Guide warns that a service charge without the word gratuity may not reach the staff, so you may still need to tip; ask the caterer.
Is a catering service charge a tip?
No. The IRS says a payment is a tip only if the customer chooses to pay it and sets the amount. Mandatory service charges, including required gratuities in a contract, are not tips, and when paid to employees they are generally treated as wages.
How much do you tip wedding catering staff?
Here Comes The Guide suggests 15% to 20% of the food and beverage bill if no gratuity is in the contract, $100 to $300 each for the catering manager and head waiter, about $20 per server, and 10% to 20% of the alcohol bill for bartenders. Choose “Wedding” in the calculator to total them.
MORE FREE TOOLS
Related Tools and Guides
The other numbers behind a catering job.
- Food Cost CalculatorCost a recipe per portion and set a menu price at your target food cost percentage.→
- Courier Delivery Cost CalculatorA courier’s price range for your route, from a pickup and a dropoff address.→
- How to Start a Catering BusinessLicensing, kitchens, pricing, and getting your first clients.→
Delivery Drivers for Catering Orders
Large orders, early drop-offs, and multi-stop lunch routes, in a vehicle that fits the order.