Food truck catering pricing
Industry-typical food truck catering ranges by cuisine and headcount, refreshed quarterly.
Per-guest ranges by cuisine
| Cuisine | Casual | Mid | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
|
American comfort
burgers, sliders, hot dogs, mac & cheese
|
$12–$16 | $16–$22 | $22–$28 |
|
Tacos / Mexican
street tacos, burritos, elote
|
$12–$15 | $15–$20 | $20–$26 |
|
BBQ
brisket, pulled pork, ribs, sides
|
$14–$18 | $18–$24 | $24–$32 |
|
Asian
Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, fusion bowls
|
$14–$18 | $18–$24 | $24–$30 |
|
Pizza
wood-fired, Neapolitan, build-your-own
|
$13–$17 | $17–$23 | $23–$28 |
|
Seafood
lobster rolls, fish tacos, crab cakes
|
$18–$24 | $24–$32 | $32–$45 |
|
Dessert / specialty
gelato, doughnuts, churros, coffee
|
$5–$9 | $9–$14 | $14–$20 |
|
Dietary-specialty
vegan, halal, kosher, gluten-free dedicated
|
$16–$22 | $22–$28 | $28–$38 |
|
Gourmet / chef-driven
named-chef trucks, tasting-menu format
|
— | $28–$38 | $38–$65 |
Sources: Food Truck Empire 2024 catering survey; EventMB 2023; Catersource market notes. Entries marked "verify locally" reflect higher market variance. Published ranges reflect industry averages and recent platform bookings. Actual quotes vary by date, location, headcount, and vendor.
Typical minimums by event type
| Event type | Minimum spend | Typical headcount |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate lunch (on-site service) | $600–$1,200 | 25–250 |
| Wedding (single truck) | $2,000–$3,500 | 75–250 |
| Private party / birthday | $750–$1,500 | 20–100 |
| School fundraiser / teacher appreciation | $500–$1,000 | 50–600 |
| Church fellowship lunch | $500–$1,200 | 40–400 |
| Festival / sponsorship-style | Variable | 500–25,000 |
| Office program (monthly contract) | $1,500–$3,000 | 25–150 |
| Large event (multi-truck coordination) | $8,000–$120,000 | 200–5,000 |
Deposit policy
- Booking deposit (non-refundable)
- 25%
- 30-day milestone (refundable)
- 25%
- Final balance (refundable per cancellation tiers)
- 50%
Cancellation tiers
| Days before event | Refundable | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 30+ | 100% | Refund minus the non-refundable booking deposit. |
| 14–29 | 50% | Reschedule preserves deposit + 50% as credit. |
| 7–13 | 25% | Food has been ordered. |
| 0–6 | 0% | Final balance retained; staff scheduled. |
If a U.S. National Weather Service Severe Weather Warning, federal or state emergency declaration, or other force-majeure event prevents safe operation within 24 hours of the event, FlavorFleets will work with the operator and client to reschedule at no penalty. If reschedule is not feasible within 12 months, the booking deposit and any paid milestones (less documented food-cost loss) will be refunded.
Gratuity is at the host's discretion. Industry standard is 18–22% on labour-heavy service. Sales tax is operator-set and shown on every quote as a separate line.