People call me and they have a simple question like, “how much does it cost to rent table place settings?” I want to give a straight, simple answer, but the answer is dependent upon so many different things. What you choose to rent is probably different than what the next person I talk to will choose. With that said, there are some general guidelines you can use for budgeting purposes. Please keep in mind this is an over-simplification just to get you started with budgeting. I chose a common range of prices – there are ALWAYS more expensive options when you start customizing.
Per Person Cost for Formal Table Place Setting
| Item | Good | Better | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charger | $1.10 | $4.50 | $6.95 |
| Dinner Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Salad Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Bread Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Dessert Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Beverage Glass | $0.50 | $0.95 | $2.25 |
| Red Wine Glass | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.25 |
| White Wine Glass | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.25 |
| Coffee Cup | $0.50 | $0.70 | $0.95 |
| Coffee Cup Saucer | $0.50 | $0.60 | $0.95 |
| Salad Fork | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Dinner Fork | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Dinner Knife | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Dessert Fork | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Teaspoon | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Butter Knife | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Total Per Person | $8.30 | $15.75 | $28.10 |
Per Person Cost for Casual Table Place Setting
| Item | Good | Better | Best |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinner Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Salad Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Bread Plate | $0.55 | $0.95 | $2.00 |
| Beverage Glass | $0.50 | $0.95 | $2.25 |
| Dinner Fork | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Dinner Knife | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Teaspoon | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Butter Knife | $0.40 | $0.55 | $0.75 |
| Total Per Person | $3.75 | $6.00 | $11.25 |
I’ve worked with several people who have chosen to just get the Dinner Plate, Beverage Glass, Wine Glass, Dinner Fork, Dinner Knife, and Spoon. (I actually prefer this approach unless it is a very formal event). So…on the low end, you can expect to pay about $3 per person for plain white china or glass with stainless still flatware. On the very high-end, you are looking at about $28 per person for gold or silver-rimmed china with silver-plated flatware and crystal stemware.
Next you need to know How to Set a Table.
Here are a couple of other blogs you might find helpful:
Types of Rental Chairs and Average Prices
What Size Linen Fits My Table?
Table Sizes – How Many People will Fit?
How Much Event Space Do You Need?
Party Drink Calculator: How Much Alcohol Do I Need?
