Event Staffing Calculator
Find the ideal number of wait staff. Choose your guest count, select a service style, and get an instant recommendation. Perfect for planners, venues, caterers. Use the calculator below, then request a tailored quote if you’d like our event staffing team in USA to staff your event.
How many servers do I need?
Move the bar to select your guest count, then choose the service style.
Service Style
These counts are guidance, not guarantees. Venue layout, menu complexity, bar length, and service pace may change the final plan.
How it Works for Guest Count & Service Style
- Pick a guest count from the presets.
- Select a service style that matches your event.
- See the suggested mix of staff roles.
- Refine with your menu, venue layout, and timeline.
- Request a quote for exact staffing and scheduling.
Buffet Style
- Ideal for high-throughput dining with self-serve stations and chafers.
- Buffet attendants set up, replenish, and maintain presentation and temperatures.
- Servers circulate beverages, dessert, and dietary requests as needed.
- Bussers keep stations tidy, manage trash, and reset guest areas.
- A captain coordinates timing with kitchen, speeches, and guest flow.
Cocktail Service / Traypass
- Designed for standing receptions, brand activations, and mingling events.
- Servers tray-pass bites and beverages while managing circulation and flow.
- Bussers clear glassware, reset high-tops, and keep pathways pristine.
- Flexible pacing adapts to entertainment cues and VIP arrivals.
- A captain oversees run-of-show, tray cycles, and service zones.
American Style (Plated)
- Seated, plated service with clear course timing and synchronized delivery.
- Servers handle bread, water, wine service, and multi-course plating.
- Bussers support resets, crumb, and rapid table maintenance between courses.
- Excellent for conferences, galas, and corporate dinners with fixed timelines.
- A captain leads stations, liaises with kitchen, and manages dietary protocols.
Sit-Down / Fine Dining
- Elevated execution with refined standards and white-glove attention.
- Servers perform coordinated course drops and discreet tableside service.
- Bussers maintain impeccable table presentation and polished resets.
- Precision timing integrates speeches, reveals, and chef tastings.
- A captain ensures flawless service, scene choreography, and guest care.
When to request a tailored plan
Complex floor plans, multiple menus, tight turnarounds, VIP areas, or brand guidelines benefit from a custom staffing map. Share your run of show and we’ll fine tune counts by station, room, and timeline, then lock in a team that fits your event perfectly.