How Much Does a Private Chef Cost for Groups of 6, 10 and 20?

Based on recent UK bookings on Yhangry, hiring a private chef costs around £500 for six guests, £615 for ten and £1,040 for twenty.

That works out at approximately £78, £61 and £54 per person respectively. The more people you’re catering for, the lower the cost per head tends to be.

Of course, there’s more to a private chef’s quote than the number of guests. Your menu, location, ingredients and the level of service you want all play a part.

Whether you’re planning a birthday dinner for six, a family gathering for ten or a big celebration for twenty, here’s what you can expect to spend, based on thousands of real bookings.

It might seem surprising, but hiring a private chef for six people can cost more per person than booking one for twenty.

That’s because much of the work stays the same regardless of group size. Your chef still needs to plan the menu, shop for ingredients, travel to your home, prepare the food and cook on the day.

A minimum booking spend helps cover these costs, which means smaller groups tend to pay a little more per head.

As your guest list grows, those fixed costs are shared across more people. However, larger dinners may also require additional waiting staff, equipment or preparation time, depending on the menu and style of service.

Here’s a useful way to approach each group size:

Not all private chef quotes are structured in the same way, so it’s worth checking exactly what you’re paying for.

A typical quote may include:

Depending on your requirements, there may be additional costs for canapés, extra courses, waiting staff, hired crockery or specialist equipment.

Drinks and table decorations are also worth budgeting for separately unless your chef has confirmed they’re included.

One other thing to remember: two three-course menus can have very different price tags. A menu featuring premium seafood or expensive cuts of meat will naturally cost more than one built around seasonal ingredients.

If you’re working to a particular budget, let your chef know. Small menu adjustments can make a meaningful difference without compromising the experience.

Rather than relying on industry estimates, we looked at 3,949 completed Yhangry bookings across the UK, with event dates between November 2025 and October 2026.

Here’s what people actually paid for groups of different sizes.

The typical price is the median booking value. The middle range represents the central 50% of bookings, meaning 25% cost less and 25% cost more.

Prices reflect the full booking cost before discount codes, including the chef’s fee, ingredients and Yhangry’s service fee. Drinks, tips and extras added after booking aren’t included.

The figures cover single-meal events and exclude the festive period.

If you’re planning a festive dinner, it’s worth allowing a little more room in your budget.

Bookings between 20 December and 1 January were noticeably more expensive:

Demand is higher around Christmas and New Year, so if you have a particular date in mind, it’s worth getting your quotes in early.

Numbers are useful, but sometimes it’s easier to picture what your own dinner could look like. Here are three examples from actual Yhangry bookings.

In January 2026, a group of six celebrated a birthday at home with a Thai-inspired feast.

The total came to £478.40, or around £80 per person, with ingredients included.

Also in January 2026, a group of ten organised a surprise birthday dinner with an entirely plant-based menu.

The evening included nibbles, two starters, a main course and dessert, all for £608.40 (around £61 per person).

The highlights? Satay tofu and plant-based surf and turf.

For a larger gathering in October 2026, a group of twenty enjoyed a three-course dinner at home.

Guests could choose from two starters and two mains on the chef’s menu. The total came to £1,040, working out at £52 per person.

The chef also suggested alternatives for guests with particular preferences ahead of the event and left the kitchen spotless afterwards.

All three bookings included ingredients in the quoted price. They’re good examples of what’s possible at different budgets, although your own quote will depend on your location, date, menu and chosen chef.

Hiring a private chef doesn’t necessarily mean spending more than you planned. A little flexibility with your menu and service can go a long way.

Here are a few things worth considering:

1. Think about the experience you want.

Are you imagining a relaxed evening with everyone sharing dishes around the table, or a more formal dining experience with individually plated courses? Neither is necessarily better, but the style of service can influence your final quote.

2. Be flexible with your menu.

If there’s a particular dish you really want, tell your chef. They may be able to suggest alternatives for other courses that keep the overall cost within budget.

3. Share your budget upfront.

Rather than asking for a menu and trying to work out the cost afterwards, tell chefs what you’d like to spend. They can then suggest a menu and experience that fits.

4. Give chefs the details they need.

When requesting quotes, include your postcode, event date, guest count (including adults and children), dietary requirements and preferred style of dining.

Also clarify whether your budget includes drinks or is intended for food and service alone.

The more information you provide, the easier it is for chefs to put together an accurate quote and for you to compare your options.

Whether you’re hosting six people or twenty, having a private chef means you can enjoy the occasion without spending the evening in the kitchen.

With Yhangry, you can share your event details, receive quotes from local chefs and compare menus and prices before making a decision.

Request private chef quotes and find the right chef for your next gathering.