Food & drink calculator
Wedding Bar & Drink Cost Calculator
Estimate the full cost of your wedding bar — alcohol, bartenders, and corkage — based on your guest count, reception length, and drink prices. For just the quantities to buy, start with the alcohol calculator and bring those numbers here to price it all out.
Your bar cost
Cost breakdown
- Wine
- $990
- Beer
- $396
- Liquor
- $225
- Champagne
- $0
- Bartenders
- $480
- Corkage
- $0
- Alcohol quantities come from the same rules as the alcohol calculator (2 drinks the first hour, 1 per hour after).
- Plan about 1 bartender per 50 guests, and add an hour on each end for setup and breakdown.
- Add mixers, ice, garnishes, glassware, and sales tax — they're not included here.
This is an estimate, not a guarantee. Wedding costs and quantities vary by region, season, and vendor — verify before you buy or sign.
Next: read How Much Does an Open Bar Cost for a Wedding? or fold this into a full plan.
Build your wedding planHow this is calculated
- Quantities use the same rules as the alcohol calculator, then multiply by your prices.
- Bartender cost = bartenders × hourly rate × hours (plan ~1 per 50 guests, +1 hr each end).
- Corkage applies to bottles you bring in (wine, liquor, champagne).
- Mixers, ice, glassware, and tax are not included.
Every figure here is a well-worn planning rule of thumb, not a quote — use it to budget early, then lock in real numbers as you book.
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Open →Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for the bar at my wedding?
It depends on your guest count, how long the reception runs, and the type of bar. This calculator multiplies the drink quantities (using the same rules as our alcohol calculator) by your per-bottle and per-drink prices, then adds bartender labor and any corkage to give you a total and a per-guest figure.
How many bartenders do I need?
A good rule of thumb is about one bartender per 50 guests, and add an extra hour on each end of the reception for setup and breakdown. More bartenders shorten lines and speed up service for a heavy-drinking crowd.
What is corkage and when does it apply?
Corkage is a per-bottle fee some venues charge to serve alcohol you supply yourself. We apply it to the wine, liquor, and champagne bottles, since those are the ones typically brought in. Leave it at $0 if your venue or caterer provides the alcohol.
Does this estimate include everything?
No — it covers alcohol, bartender labor, and corkage. Plan separately for mixers, ice, garnishes, glassware, and sales tax, which aren't included here. Build those extras into your overall budget.
Last reviewed June 2026 by Jared Waterworth. Estimates use widely accepted wedding-planning rules of thumb — see how we estimate. Numbers vary by region, season, and vendor, so verify before you book or buy.