Cost guide
How much does dessert catering cost?
A self-service sweet cart costs £75 to £300 depending on guest numbers, or about £4 to £5 per head. A churros, doughnut or crêpe station cooked fresh by staff runs £300 to £500 for two hours for up to about 100 guests, or about £5 to £8 per head.
Typical prices
Ranges, not quotes. A quote depends on your room.
| Work | Typical UK price |
|---|---|
| Sweet cart, up to 50 guests | £75 to £150 |
| Sweet cart, up to 100 guests | £200 to £300 |
| Churros or doughnut station, two hours | £300 to £500 |
| Staffed dessert station, per head | £5 to £8 |
| Branded or personalised cart panel | £0 to £200 |
Ask whether the cart is self-service with packaged sweets or staffed with desserts cooked fresh, because they are different businesses and different prices. For anything cooked on the day, ask how allergens are shown.
What moves the price
- Self-service or staffed. A cart of packaged sweets is far cheaper than staff cooking fresh desserts.
- Guest numbers. Packages are priced for a set number, with a charge per extra guest.
- Hours. Two hours is the usual minimum for a staffed station.
- Styling and branding. Personalised signs are sometimes free; branded panels cost extra.
- Travel and power. A station needing a generator, or a long drive, adds to the price.
Who quotes for it
32 of the 2,162 caterers listed on this site take on dessert catering.
Where they are: Adwick le Street (1), Bangor (1), Batley (1), Bridgwater (1), Cleethorpes (1).
Questions about dessert catering
How do dessert caterers handle nut allergies?
They must be able to tell you which of the 14 allergens each item contains. Nuts are common in desserts, so for a serious allergy ask whether the business can guarantee a nut-free item, not only one made without nuts.
How long is a sweet cart or dessert station hired for?
Staffed stations usually run for two hours, with extra time available. Sweet carts are normally set up for the evening and collected at the end or the next day.