Updated October 2026 · 5 minute read
Hosts compare food trucks per person, so that is the number you need to get right. This guide gathers 2026 per-guest prices by event type and cuisine, then shows truck owners how to set a per-person price that covers food cost and the minimum.
- Typical: about $22–$38 per person, average $28.88 in Best Food Trucks’ bookings.1
- Wider range: $10–$40 depending on cuisine and market.234
- Weddings: about $31 per person on average.1
- Add-ons (drinks, dessert): about $1–$5 per guest.24
- Pricing rule: per-person price = food cost per guest ÷ target food cost %.
Cost per person by event type
| Event | Avg. per person (Best Food Trucks)1 | Avg. guests1 | NYFTA range3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedding reception | $31.12 | 91 | $15–$40 |
| Corporate event | $30.17 | 118 | $10–$40 |
| Corporate lunch | $30.45 | 100 | $10–$40 |
| Birthday party | $38.17 | 55 | $5–$35 (private party) |
| Graduation party | $29.33 | 77 | $5–$35 (private party) |
| Holiday party | $32–$36 | 74–85 |
Sources: Best Food Trucks, How much does it cost to hire a food truck (June 2026, from its own bookings); NYFTA 2026 catering pricing guide (New York).
Smaller parties cost more per person because the truck’s minimum and fixed costs are spread over fewer guests, which may be why birthday parties average the highest per head.
Cost per person by cuisine
| Truck type | Per person | Typical minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Taco | $10–$18 | about $900–$1,200 |
| BBQ | $10–$20 | about $1,000–$1,300 |
| Burger | $12–$20 | about $1,000–$1,300 |
| Pizza | $12–$20 | about $1,000–$1,300 |
| Lobster | $18–$25 | about $1,200–$1,500 |
| Ice cream | $5–$10 | about $400–$800 |
Source: Profitable Venture, How much do food trucks charge for an event or wedding (updated March 2026).2
Per person vs minimum spend
Many trucks quote a per-person price and a minimum spend; the host pays whichever is higher. Best Food Trucks’ example is a $1,500 minimum for up to 60 guests, then $25 for each extra guest.1
| Guests | At $25 per person | With a $1,500 minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $1,000 | $1,500 (minimum applies) |
| 60 | $1,500 | $1,500 |
| 80 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| 120 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
For how to set the minimum itself, see our food truck minimum guarantee guide.
Set your per-person price
Then check: per-person price × guests ≥ your minimum and your fixed event cost.
Worked example, using example assumptions:
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Food and packaging per guest | $7.00 |
| Target food cost | 30% of price |
| Per-person price: $7.00 ÷ 0.30 | $23.33, round to $24 |
| 80 guests × $24 | $1,920 |
| Your minimum | $1,500, so the per-person total applies |
$24 sits near the bottom of Best Food Trucks’ $22–$38 range,1 so a truck with a $7 plate cost has room to price higher in a strong market. Add drinks or dessert at $1–$5 per guest as optional extras.2
Price every event from your real food cost
The Food Truck Business Tracker has menu costing, an event profit calculator, sales by location and monthly profit, so your per-person quotes start from real numbers. Excel and Google Sheets.
Questions
How much does food truck catering cost per person?
Best Food Trucks’ 2026 booking data puts it at $22 to $38 per person, averaging $28.88. Other 2026 guides give wider ranges: $10 to $35 (Profitable Venture) and $15 to $40, often $20 to $35 (NYFTA).
How much is food truck catering for a wedding per person?
Best Food Trucks’ wedding bookings averaged $31.12 per person across an average of 91 guests. Profitable Venture puts food truck weddings at $25 to $35 per guest.
Which food trucks are cheapest per person?
Taco and BBQ trucks tend to start lowest, around $10 per person in Profitable Venture’s list, with ice cream at $5 to $10. Lobster trucks are among the highest at $18 to $25.
Do food trucks charge per person or a flat fee?
Often both: a per-guest price with a minimum spend. For example, a $1,500 minimum covering up to 60 guests, then about $25 for each extra guest.
How do I set my per-person price as a food truck?
Start from your food and packaging cost per guest and divide by your target food cost percentage, then check the total covers your minimum and the fixed cost of the event. At $7 of food per guest and a 30% target, that is about $23 per person.
Related guides
Sources
- Best Food Trucks: How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Food Truck, June 2026
- Profitable Venture: How Much Do Food Trucks Charge for an Event or Wedding, updated March 2026
- NYFTA: Catering Costs in NYC, The Complete 2026 Pricing Guide
- OrderOut: Cost to Hire a Food Truck (page no longer available online, link removed 25 October 2026)
Tahir Abbas
Founder of Softotech Solutions. Tahir builds Excel and Google Sheets tools for food truck owners, including the free event profit calculator on this site. Prices come from the sources listed above; the worked example uses labelled example assumptions.