Private Dining Minimum Calculator
Stop guessing private event room minimums. Calculate mathematically sound Food & Beverage (F&B) minimum spends that consistently outperform normal dining room table turnover.
Enter room seats and duration. Recommended minimum spends and dining room opportunity costs calculate live below.
Room Capacity & Dining Velocity
3.5 Hour SlotEvent Package Menu TiersBased on $104/guest
- Deposit: taken at signing to hold the date; say in writing whether it is refundable.
- Final headcount: set a deadline before the event; bill the guaranteed or actual count, whichever is higher.
- Gratuity or service charge: state the amount and who receives it; rules on service charges differ by state.
Step 2: Live Calculated Event Minimums & Buyout Folio
Dynamic Real-Time OutputHow to use this calculator
This calculator sets a food and drink minimum for a private room or buyout, based on the regular sales you give up, staffing and setup costs and a premium for privacy.
- Enter the room’s seats, the event length and your usual spend per guest.
- Enter your normal table turn time and how full the room usually is at that time.
- Add event staff, setup and cleaning costs and the premium you want for a private booking.
- Use the minimum, the per-guest packages and the deposit in your event quotes.
What’s a good number?
The minimum should at least cover the regular sales you would have made in that room, plus the extra cost of running the event. Busy nights are worth more than quiet ones, so price them higher.
The calculator suggests a deposit of half the minimum; set your own deposit and cancellation terms in writing.
Worked example
An example 20-seat private room booked for a three-hour dinner. The figures are invented; the results are what this calculator gives for them.
| Seats / event length | 20 seats / 3 hours |
|---|---|
| Usual spend per guest | $75 |
| Usual turn time / how full | 90 minutes / 70% |
| Event staff + setup and cleaning | $300 + $150 |
| Privacy premium | 20% |
| Regular sales given up | $2,100 |
|---|---|
| Food and drink minimum | $3,000 |
| Minimum per guest | $150 |
| Packages per guest | $135 / $188 / $255 |
| Deposit (50%) | $1,500 |
The room would normally bring in about $2,100 in that slot, so a $3,000 minimum covers it, the event costs and the premium.
Common questions
What is a food and beverage minimum?
The least a group must spend on food and drink to book the room. If they spend less, they pay the difference, usually as a room fee.
How do I price a private dining room?
Start with the regular sales you would give up in that time slot, add staffing and setup costs and a premium for privacy, and charge more on your busiest nights.
Should I take a deposit?
Most restaurants do, to protect against no-shows and late cancellations. Put the deposit, the cancellation terms and the final guest count deadline in writing.
Every formula and assumption is on How we calculate.
Was this useful?
Food & drink minimum
$2,500
Per guest
$104