Classic Catering Blog
How Much Does Catering a Party in Melbourne Cost?
How Much Does Catering Cost in Melbourne?
Real 2026 prices from Chef Rodney Van Oirschot: what Melbourne catering costs per person and per piece, how many pieces you need, and worked examples for 30, 60 and 100 guests.
Catering in Melbourne usually costs $17.50–$75 per person in 2026. Office lunch packages start at $17.50 per person, finger food and canapés come to about $25–$55 per person (8–10 pieces at $3.30–$7.70 each), grazing tables about $16–$23 per person (from $700 for up to 30 guests), and hot buffets $47.50–$67.50 per person. Waitstaff add about $55–$65 per hour, and delivery is extra. Prices exclude GST.
How much does catering cost per person in Melbourne?
It depends mostly on the style of food and whether you need staff. Here's what each style typically costs in Melbourne in 2026, and what Classic Catering charges.
| Catering style | Typical Melbourne price | Classic Catering |
|---|---|---|
| Office breakfast (delivered) | $15–$30 pp | $16.50–$24.50 pp, from 10 people |
| Office lunch (delivered) | $17–$35 pp | $17.50–$22.50 pp, from 10 people |
| Finger food & canapés | $25–$55 pp | $3.30–$7.70 per piece |
| Grazing tables & boxes | $16–$25 pp | Tables from $700 (1 m, up to 30 guests) · boxes from $115 (5–8 people) |
| Hot buffets | $45–$75 pp | $47.50–$67.50 pp |
| Plates, knife, fork & napkin | $1–$2.60 pp | $2.20 pp eco pack |
All Classic Catering prices exclude GST. Delivery and staff are extra.
How much does finger food catering cost per piece?
Our finger food is priced per piece in four tiers, so you control the budget by choosing the mix.
Small bites
Frittatas and finger sandwiches. Great value for lighter events.
Classic canapés
Sausage rolls, mini quiches, wild mushroom arancini, mini pizzas, sweet tartlets.
Premium canapés
Smoked salmon blinis, Korean fried chicken, croquettes, lamb kofta, prawn skewers.
Deluxe substantial bites
Pork belly or jackfruit bao, wagyu and pulled pork sliders. The anchors for longer events.
Chef's tip: protein beats pastry. A wagyu slider or pork belly bao fills guests up far more than three pastry rolls. Because substantial pieces are more satisfying, guests often need about 20% fewer pieces, so a higher-tier menu can cost the same or less overall.
How much does a grazing table cost in Melbourne?
Our savoury grazing tables start at $700 for a 1 m table serving up to 30 guests, which works out at about $16–$23 per person. Grazing boxes for 5–8 people start at $115.
| Savoury grazing table | Serves | Price | Per guest (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 m table | Up to 30 guests | $700 | $23 |
| 1.5 m table | Up to 40 guests | $900 | $23 |
| 2 m table | Up to 50 guests | $1,100 | $22 |
| 2.5 m table | Up to 70 guests | $1,300 | $19 |
| 3 m table | Up to 100 guests | $1,600 | $16 |
| Grazing box | 5–8 people | from $115 | $14–$23 |
Each savoury table includes imported and local cheeses, premium cured meats, marinated antipasto, gourmet dips, seasonal fruit, roasted nuts, artisan crackers and fresh bread. Sweet grazing tables come in 1.5 m to 3 m sizes and are priced on request. See grazing options
How many pieces of finger food do I need per guest?
| Event | Pieces per guest | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Networking hour (about 1 hr) | 4–6 | Launches, pre-dinner drinks |
| Cocktail party (2–3 hrs) | 8–10 | Birthdays, office celebrations, social events |
| Meal replacement (3+ hrs) | 12–15 | Evening parties where no dinner follows |
For events over 2.5 hours, include at least two substantial bites per guest so nobody leaves hungry.
How much does it cost to cater for 30, 60 or 100 people?
Three typical Melbourne events, costed with our current prices. Your quote will depend on your menu and venue.
| Event | What's included | Ex GST | Inc GST |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-person office lunch, Melbourne CBD | Premium lunch package ($22.50) + eco plate & cutlery pack ($2.20). Free CBD delivery over $150. | $741 | $815 |
| 60-guest cocktail party, drop-off, 10–25 km | 9 pieces each: 3 small bites, 3 classic, 2 premium, 1 deluxe ($41.80 pp) + $90 delivery | $2,598 | $2,858 |
| 100-guest staffed party, 3 hours, 10–25 km | 10 pieces each: 2 small, 3 classic, 3 premium, 2 deluxe ($51.70 pp) + full service with 3 waitstaff for up to 4 hours ($200 each) | $5,770 | $6,347 |
Full service includes 2 waitstaff for up to 69 guests, 3 for 70–110 and 4 for 111 or more, at $200 per staff member for up to 4 hours. Ask us for an exact quote.
What affects the cost of catering?
Type of event
A casual party needs less setup and equipment than a formal function or wedding.
Menu & protein quality
Food is the biggest cost. Substantial, protein-rich pieces satisfy guests with fewer pieces.
Guest numbers
Most pricing is per person, so an accurate headcount is the best way to budget.
Service style
Drop-off, buffet and grazing cost less than roaming or plated service, which need more staff.
Staff & award rates
Industry waitstaff rates are about $55–$65 an hour in 2026. Our full service is $200 per staff member for up to 4 hours.
Location & timing
Distance from our kitchen, CBD loading docks and service lifts all affect delivery.
How can I make catering more affordable?
Choose drop-off over staffed service
We deliver chef-made trays ready to serve and you hand them round. It's the quickest way to save several hundred dollars.
Hold it in the afternoon
A 2–4 pm event needs 6–8 pieces per guest rather than 12–14 for a meal replacement, cutting food spend by nearly 40%.
Fewer, better pieces
Mix in deluxe sliders and bao instead of piling up cheap pastry fillers.
Keep the bar simple, spend on food
A short list of Victorian wines and one beer keeps drinks costs down. Guests remember the food.
Go seasonal
In-season Victorian produce costs less. We'll build your menu around what's fresh that week.
How much is catering delivery, and is there a minimum spend?
Office breakfast & lunch packages
From 10 people, 48 hours' notice. Flat $20 delivery to the CBD and inner suburbs on orders under $150, free over $150. Outer suburbs quoted. Dietary meals (GF, vegan, lactose-free, halal) are $6.50 extra per person. Delivery pricing
Event finger food & full service
Minimum food spend $550 and 7 days' notice. Full service from 40 guests. Delivery from Rosanna or the CBD: $70 + GST within 10 km, $90 + GST for 10–20 km, $120 + GST for 20–40 km, custom quote beyond 40 km. Saturday orders add $15 and Sunday orders $20. Free pickup from Rosanna or the CBD during business hours. Dietary meals are quoted per event. Find your suburb's fee
Estimate your catering cost
Pick your guest numbers and menu items in our finger food estimator for an instant price including delivery or staff and GST, then send it to Chef Rodney's team.
Finger Food Menu Estimator. Choose from 35 canapés and substantial bites across all four price tiers.
Catering price FAQs
How much does catering cost per person in Melbourne?+
Most Melbourne catering costs between $16 and $75 per person. Office lunch packages start at $17.50 per person, grazing tables work out at about $16–$23 per person, finger food and canapé menus usually come to $25–$55 per person, and hot buffets start at $47.50 per person. Prices exclude GST.
How much does finger food catering cost per piece?+
Classic Catering's finger food is priced per piece: small bites $3.30, classic canapés $4.40, premium canapés $5.50 and deluxe substantial bites such as sliders and bao $7.70.
How much does a grazing table cost in Melbourne?+
Classic Catering's savoury grazing tables cost $700 for a 1 m table (up to 30 guests), $900 for 1.5 m (40 guests), $1,100 for 2 m (50 guests), $1,300 for 2.5 m (70 guests) and $1,600 for 3 m (100 guests). Grazing boxes for 5–8 people start at $115.
How many pieces of finger food do I need per guest?+
Allow 4–6 pieces per guest for a 1-hour networking event, 8–10 pieces for a 2–3 hour cocktail party, and 12–15 pieces when finger food replaces a meal. For events over 2.5 hours include at least 2 substantial bites per guest.
How much does it cost to cater a party for 100 people in Melbourne?+
A 3-hour fully staffed cocktail party for 100 guests with 10 pieces each costs about $5,770 plus GST with Classic Catering: $5,170 of food and three waitstaff at $200 each. Drop-off without staff costs less.
How much does office lunch catering cost?+
Classic Catering's office lunch packages are $17.50, $19.50 and $22.50 per person ex GST, and breakfast packages $16.50–$24.50, for 10 or more people with 48 hours' notice.
How much are catering staff in Melbourne?+
Industry rates are about $55–$65 per hour in 2026. Classic Catering's full service is $200 per waitstaff member for up to 4 hours: 2 staff for up to 69 guests, 3 for 70–110 and 4 for 111 or more.
Is there a minimum spend for catering delivery?+
Office breakfast and lunch packages start from 10 people. Event finger food delivery and full service require a food spend of at least $550 and 7 days' notice, and full service requires at least 40 guests.
How much is catering delivery in Melbourne?+
Office breakfast and lunch packages deliver for a flat $20 to the CBD and inner suburbs on orders under $150, and free above that. Event catering delivery is $70 + GST within 10 km of Rosanna or the CBD, $90 + GST for 10–20 km and $120 + GST for 20–40 km, with a $15 Saturday and $20 Sunday surcharge. Pickup is free during business hours.
Do vegan and gluten-free catering cost extra?+
Yes. Gluten-free, vegan, lactose-free and halal meals cost extra: $6.50 per person on office breakfast and lunch packages, and quoted per event for finger food and functions.
What is the cheapest way to cater a party in Melbourne?+
Order gourmet drop-off instead of staffed service, hold the event in the afternoon so 6–8 pieces per guest is enough, and choose fewer, more substantial pieces rather than lots of pastry fillers.
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