The honest cost guide
How Much Does Catering Cost Per Person in Sydney?
Real per-head prices, what moves them, and a worked example for a typical office event — then price yours in seconds.
The short answer
Sydney catering runs about $15–$45 per head
For most office and event catering in Sydney, budget $15–$25 per person for lunches and $35–$45 for high tea or premium spreads. Grazing boxes are priced by size rather than per head. Below is exactly what sits behind those numbers — no “it depends”, just the rate card and what changes it.
| Option | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Lunch | $15 / head | Everyday team lunches, sandwiches & wraps |
| Premium Lunch | $20 / head | Client lunches, added salads & sides |
| Deluxe Lunch | $25 / head | Boardroom & premium client events |
| High Tea | $35 / head | Celebrations, afternoon events |
| Premium High Tea | $45 / head | Milestone events, elevated presentation |
| Grazing boxes | $55 / $100 / $150 | Small (5) / medium (10) / large (15) — priced by box |
Minimum 10 guests and a $250 minimum spend for per-head catering. Breakfast items (pastries, muffins, quiche, yogurt pots) are box-priced — see the online menu.
What moves the price
Five things that change your per-head cost
1. Menu tier
The biggest lever. Sandwiches and wraps sit at the $15 Essential level; add hot items, premium proteins and styled presentation and you move toward $25 and beyond.
2. Guest count
Per-head pricing needs a 10-guest minimum and a $250 minimum spend. Above that, the per-person rate is flat — 40 guests costs 4× what 10 do at the same tier.
3. Dietary requirements
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options are available across the menu. Big splits or bespoke swaps can nudge the price; tell us the numbers up front and we’ll quote it clearly.
4. Delivery
Delivery across Greater Sydney is straightforward and factored into your quote — no per-kilometre surprises.
5. Add a coffee cart
Pairing catering with a barista cart (from $275) is the most popular combo — one supplier, one delivery, one invoice. See coffee cart costs.
A worked example
Catering 30 people for a client lunch
A Premium Lunch ($20/head) for 30 guests is $600 in food, comfortably over the $250 minimum. Add a 2-hour coffee cart ($275, ~30 coffees) and you’re at roughly $875 all-in plus $30 travel — morning coffee and a styled lunch, one booking. Want the same for high tea? That’s $35/head, so $1,050 in food for 30. Run your own numbers below.
Base rate applies — pricing may vary for dietary requirements and menu customisations.
Lock in your exact quote → or call 0413 311 237Your final quote is confirmed on enquiry.
Questions people ask
Catering cost FAQs
How much does office catering cost per person in Sydney?
Lunch packages run $15 (Essential), $20 (Premium) and $25 (Deluxe) per head; high tea is $35 and premium high tea $45 per head. Minimum 10 guests and $250 minimum spend.
What’s the cheapest catering option?
Essential Lunch at $15 per head — sandwiches, wraps and sides. For smaller or more casual needs, box-priced platters and grazing boxes (from $55) can work out lower than per-head catering.
Is there a minimum order?
Yes — 10 guests and a $250 minimum spend for per-head catering. Platters and boxes from the online shop can be ordered at their listed sizes with no head-count minimum.
How much should I budget for 50 people?
At the Essential $15 tier, 50 guests is $750; at Premium $20, $1,000; at Deluxe $25, $1,250. Add a coffee cart from $275 if you want barista coffee alongside.
Do prices include delivery and GST?
Delivery across Greater Sydney is factored into your quote, and we issue GST tax invoices. The estimate you see is confirmed by our team within 24 hours.
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