A BBQ catering quote and estimate template priced per guest, brisket included.
This is a free BBQ catering quote template with the cookout itemized the way pitmasters price it: per guest, with the proteins tiered, because pulled pork and brisket are priced differently. On-site pit service has its own section, the carving station has its own attendant, and cleanup has its own line. Load it in the builder, set the headcount, and price the rest.
BBQ quotes fail on the meat math. A flat per-person price built on pulled pork stops working when the client upgrades to brisket and ribs, which cost more per pound, yield less per pound, and smoke longer. Tiered menu lines make the upgrade a visible price change, and the on-site cooking section prices the pit, the pitmaster, and the live fire separately from the food.
What’s in the template
This is the exact checklist that loads in the builder, with each line’s unit already set. Delete what this job doesn’t need.
Menu & Food6 lines
Per-guest lines with the proteins tiered: pulled pork, brisket and premium meats, chicken and ribs, plus sides, desserts, and vegetarian mains.
- Pulled pork packageperson
- Brisket & premium meatsperson
- Chicken & ribs comboperson
- Sidesperson
- Dessertsperson
- Vegetarian mainsperson
Priced per person. Premium meats carry their own lines.
On-Site Cooking3 lines
The pit or smoker on site, the pitmaster by the hour, and the live-fire setup and fuel, priced separately from the food.
- Pit / smoker on siteflat
- Pitmasterhour
- Live-fire setup & fuelflat
Staffing2 lines
Servers priced people-times-hours and the carving-station attendant.
- Servershour
- Carving-station attendanthour
Unit: hour. Quantity = staff count, multiplier = hours.
Service & Logistics4 lines
Delivery and travel, chafing and serviceware, cleanup and haul-off, and staff gratuity as its own line.
- Delivery & travelflat
- Chafing & servicewareflat
- Cleanup & haul-offflat
- Staff gratuityflat
Questions
Units, tax, deposits and exports are covered in the Help guide.
What does a BBQ catering quote include?
Four sections: menu and food per guest with the proteins tiered (pulled pork, brisket and premium meats, chicken and ribs, sides, desserts, vegetarian mains), on-site cooking (the pit or smoker, the pitmaster by the hour, live-fire setup and fuel), staffing priced people-times-hours, and service and logistics ending with cleanup and a visible staff gratuity line. The tiers exist because brisket costs more than pulled pork.
What does BBQ catering go for in 2026?
Most BBQ catering lands between $25 and $45 per guest. Basic packages with one protein and two sides run $14 to $22 per person, drop-off service $28 to $40, staffed buffets $35 to $55, and full-service or on-site pit service $50 to $75 and up. Premium meats like brisket and ribs typically add $3 to $10 a head. Headcount, protein tier, and whether the smoker comes to the party drive the number.
Should I use the word quote or estimate for BBQ jobs?
Clients use both, so the document answers to both. Structurally they're the same paper: per-guest menu lines, the pit service, staffing, terms. What matters is saying whether the number is firm or moves with the final headcount, which belongs in the terms either way. This template works under either word, and the headcount-deadline line settles when the number locks.
Is the BBQ catering quote template free to use?
Yes. The builder runs without an account, and the free plan includes every estimate export: client PDF, Excel, CSV, an internal budget export, and a read-only share link that carries a client-safe copy inside the link itself. A free account adds one cloud-saved estimate. Pro is a one-time purchase, not a subscription: your branding on client exports, no Estimatery footer, invoice exports, unlimited cloud saves, and a Saved Items catalog of your standard lines.
Cost figures are national ranges compiled from CaterKit (updated Aug 10, 2026), Chefry (Jun 1, 2026), Curbside (Food Truck Club) (updated May 14, 2026), Fash (Mar 15, 2023), accessed October 2026. Your market sets the real number.
Related catering templates
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Boxed lunches through plated dinners, delivery to staffed.
Per-guest menu, bar, staffing, rentals, and logistics.
General information for pricing your own work. Not legal, tax or accounting advice. Deposit caps, licensing, lien and permit rules vary by state.