Catering tip calculator
Type in the order subtotal and we’ll work out the tip. We start at 15%, in the middle of what etiquette and catering guides suggest for delivered catering; change it to match your order.
Total with tip: $230.00
That’s our $5 minimum: on a small order, guides suggest tipping at least $5.
How much to tip a caterer
Delivered or drop-off catering, like an office lunch brought by a driver: most guides say 10% to 20% of the bill. The Emily Post Institute suggests 10% to 15% for delivery, and Toast and ezCater say 10% to 20%. ezCater also suggests at least $5 on a small order and tipping on the food and drinks, not the delivery fee. We start at 15%.
Full-service catering, with staff who set up, serve and clear: 15% to 20% of the food and drink bill, according to Toast and The Knot. Check your contract or invoice first: if it already includes a service charge or gratuity, you don’t need to add another tip on top.
Tipping on office orders
Big recurring orders are where tips add up, so it helps to agree a standard percentage for the team. If your company has a tipping policy for catering, follow it; otherwise 15% of the subtotal is a fair default for a driver who carries a big order up to the office.
Still working out the order? The pizza calculator in office mode shows the pizza count, the cost per person and a suggested tip, and the catering calculator covers the rest of the menu. More in our guides to office catering and office lunch catering.