Review criteria
- +Cost-per-head from menu and headcount
- +Target margin and suggested quote
- +Food-cost percentage per event
- +Works in Google Sheets and Excel
Catering Quote Calculator
The Catering Quote Calculator is a copy-ready spreadsheet for catering that tracks menu, headcount, cost per head, margin, quote. It opens unchanged in both Google Sheets and Excel, needs no add-ons or macros, and takes about 15 minutes to set up.
Last updated: August 2026
Excel workbook · opens in Google Sheets · 3 tabs · no sign-up
Try it before you download
Live preview of “Catering Quote Calculator”
Change any white cell; grey cells recalculate the way they will in Excel or Google Sheets. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Loading preview…
you type calculated needs attention getting close
Get this template
What’s inside “Catering Quote Calculator”
Tabs: How to use · Menu · QuoteFormat: Excel (.xlsx) · opens in Google SheetsSetup: About 15 minutesColumns: 5
Columns (grey = calculated for you)
- Menu item
- Course
- Food cost per serving
- Servings per guest
- Cost per guest
- Open the Menu tab and replace the sample rows with your own — one row per entry. Formulas fill in automatically for new rows.
- Build the menu with your cost per serving and how many servings each guest takes (0.6 means 60% of guests choose that main).
- Enter headcount, staff and rentals on the Quote tab; the quote is priced to hit your target margin.
- Using Google Sheets? Upload the file to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets (or File → Import in an open sheet). Formulas, dropdowns and highlights carry over.
The file opens locally on your device — nothing is uploaded, and you own the copy outright.
Catering Quote Calculator
About this template
It is built for people who want results without another subscription: caterers quoting events for real profit. The whole template is free to copy — there is no paid tier. Because it is a plain spreadsheet, you own your data outright and can shape every column to how you actually work.
Review evidence
What to verify before choosing Catering Quote Calculator
Use the review criteria below to decide whether this template fits your workflow.
Often worth considering when
- +Caterers quoting events for real profit
- +Anyone who suspects they under-quote
Pause before choosing when
- -Online proposals and e-signature
- -Live ingredient price feeds
About Catering
Why people consider this option
- +Quote events and cost menus to protect your margin
- +Track orders, deposits, and balances in one place
- +Schedule event staff without restaurant software
What to review before acting
- -No online ordering or payment processing
- -Large operations need dedicated catering software
Trust FAQ
Questions people ask before copying a template
Does the Catering Quote Calculator work in both Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes. It is built with standard functions and no macros, so it opens and works the same in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel — on desktop or your phone.
Is the Catering Quote Calculator really free?
The core template is free to copy and use. There is no paid tier — download the Excel workbook, replace the sample rows with your own, and you are ready to work.
What does the Catering Quote Calculator track?
It tracks menu, headcount, cost per head, margin, quote. The workbook comes with these columns plus the formulas, dropdowns and highlights already set up. Replace the sample rows and the totals update as you go.