Guide
Funeral Buffet: £8 to £15 a Head and How to Plan It
A funeral buffet usually costs £8 to £15 a head for sandwiches and finger food. How to estimate numbers at short notice, what to order and where to hold it.
How much does a funeral buffet cost?
A funeral or wake buffet usually costs £8 to £15 a head for sandwiches, finger food and a sweet item, delivered and set out. Tea, coffee and a member of staff to serve and clear add to that, and a hot buffet runs higher. Most caterers who do funeral work are used to short notice, which matters when a funeral is often arranged within two to four weeks.
If the wake is at a pub, hotel or social club, the venue may do the food itself or have a caterer it works with; ask before booking anyone separately.
How many people should you cater for?
The hardest part, because you rarely know. Start from the people you expect, then think about how the funeral is announced: a notice in a local paper or on social media brings more people than a family-only service. Many people attend the service and do not go on to the wake. Tell the caterer the range and ask what they suggest; most will advise a firm number with a small margin, and a finger buffet stretches further than a plated meal.
What food is usual?
Sandwiches in a mix of fillings, sausage rolls, quiche, cocktail sausages, a vegetarian option, crisps or savouries, and cakes or scones with tea and coffee. The occasion suits food that can be eaten standing up with a cup in the other hand. Keep it simple and familiar; nobody will remember the canapés. Ask the caterer to label anything containing common allergens.
Where can the wake be held?
A pub function room, a hotel, a social or sports club, a village or church hall, or at home. At a hall or at home the caterer drops the food off or stays to serve; at a pub or hotel the venue usually provides it. Halls often have a basic kitchen and cups; check what is there and who does the washing up.
How do you book at short notice?
Call rather than email, and have the date, time, venue, rough numbers and budget ready. Ask for the price per head with and without staff, whether tea and coffee are included, when final numbers are needed (often a day or two before for a buffet), and who clears away. A funeral director can usually suggest caterers who do this work regularly.
Common questions
How much food do I need for a funeral buffet?
For an afternoon wake, around one round of sandwiches (four quarters) per person plus three or four other finger items and a cake or scone is usually enough.
Do caterers charge for tea and coffee?
Often separately, per head. Some venues provide urns and cups; a caterer can bring them if not.
Can I order a funeral buffet for delivery?
Yes. Drop-off is common for wakes at home or in a hall. Ask who collects the platters and when.
How late can I give final numbers?
For a cold buffet, many caterers accept final numbers one or two days before. Ask when you book.