What Does a Boil Cost?

What Can I expect to Pay?

We know your time is valuable, so I won't beat around the bush. Each year, we get hundreds of requests to cater a company or home crawfish boil, and that number continues to rise. While each event is unique and requires its own attention, the number one question I get is still, “what’s it going to cost me?” Although that is a much tougher question than it seems, we can do our best to simplify it.

 For most boils, you can guestimate 3lbs of crawfish per guest. In addition, about 2 potatoes, 1 corn coblet, and a quarter pound of sausage is a great start for your event. The other basics to consider are papered goods like napkins, wet wipes, serving containers, and even gloves. Again, every event is different, but this is a great place to start.

So what does all this amount to? Budget! That’s right. You can expect anywhere between $32-$37/person (Before Tax and Gratuity). Timing is everything, as the large gap per person is typically the market price of crawfish at the time of your event or even the lead time allowed from booking to your event's date. We will get into all of that a bit later.

Once we start adding tables, chairs, tents, etc. That is when we can see a larger jump. In the chart below you can see an average price for a boil of both 60 and 100 people. You have a price with and without tables, chairs, and tents. Keep in mind that the price per guest average is typically larger for small events. For example, you may need to rent a 20x20 tent for your 40-person boil, and it costs $800 ($20/person). For 60 people, you still may only need a 20x20 tent, and then your price per head drops to $13 per person. 

Here are some estimates based off several events that we have done. Again, these are baselines and should be considered as a guideline rather than an exact figure for your event. 

(Examples include tax and 18% gratuity)

*These are example numbers based on 2025 Totals. Actual numbers will depend on a multitude of factors unique to your event

At the end of the day, these are rough numbers. But it gives you a baseline to move forward. The only true way to get the number for YOUR event is to have a consultation call with your preferred vendor (Which, hopefully, is Clutch City Crawfish)

Now that we’ve gotten the main question out the way, let’s talk about what actually goes into all of this.

The Food

Obviously the most important part of any good crawfish boil starts with, you guessed it, the crawfish. As many of you know, crawfish prices fluctuate throughout the season and are greatly impacted by extreme weather. For instance, in 2025 Louisiana experienced an unprecedented snowstorm in early February. While this didn’t affect the crawfish themselves, it did make the availability of crawfish low, thus raising prices. Crawfish are cold blooded creatures, so when temperatures drop, they go dormant to conserve energy. Because they are not feeding, traps stay empty, and the supply tends to be down.

In 2024, we had an extremely dry summer leading up to the crawfish season. This had a completely different effect on the crop. There was a lot of attrition to eggers (or egg producing crawfish) so there just weren’t a lot of crawfish early on. They weren’t dormant, they just weren’t there. So, we had a huge price spike. However, once we started getting rain, and crawfish began to reproduce, we had a fall back to normalcy late in the season.

At Clutch City Crawfish, we wait until mid/late February to kick off our season. We do this to ensure that we are getting a great product for a reasonable price.

Other events that affect the price of crawfish are big crawfish eating holidays. Every year, despite our best efforts, we see a price spike on Easter, Mother’s Day, and even Memorial Weekend. Prices are typically set at the beginning of the week. So even though Easter is only on Sunday, the whole week sees the price increase. In contrast, we typically see a significant drop after these holidays as well. This is something to keep in mind when you are picking the date for your event.

In addition to crawfish, we see fluctuation in similar products like shrimp and crab. Because these items are available all year, we do not see as much volatility. We can typically see a price remain consistent from the beginning of crawfish season in February all the way to its end in June. Although, when we do see a price change, it is usually quite significant. Crab legs alone increased nearly $3/lb last season in April.

As for other standard foods such as corn, potatoes, and sausage; they stay pretty firm all throughout crawfish season. Unforeseen factors such as weather phenomena or infected crops are the true x factor for these items.

When it’s all said and done, knowing what food items you want for your event can go a long way in determining your budget. Here’s a quick chart to show you how much we recommend per person.

*We consider all items other than crawfish a “side”. For Boils focusing on Shrimp and Crab, these numbers will vary 

Papered Goods

Crawfish are a messy business. One of our favorite pastimes is to watch novice crawfish goers show up to their parties wearing their freshly dry-cleaned WHITE shirts and dresses. Big mistake! But that’s alright, we’re here to help prevent those nasty stains. When planning for a party, don’t skimp on the papered goods. A few typical additions for any good party are paper towels (1-2 rolls per table), wet wipes, and bibs.

In addition to mess prevention, we must think about mess removal. Most people forget about trash cans, bags, and (something we love to use) disposable bowls for the tables. Line a large container with a plastic bag, and shell removal has never been easier.

Lastly, did you know most rental companies require a tablecloth for their tables? It’s true, especially for a crawfish boil (Those juices soak through!). We don’t want anyone to be charged an additional fee, so don’t forget those tablecloths!

Adding those papered goods can make the invoice total jump, but trust us, it’s worth it in the end. A great way for companies to save money is to purchase items like paper towels internally, as they are likely a typical line item on the PO from your facility’s goods supplier. But be weary when purchasing one off items like tablecloths as most suppliers have an algorithm in place to make premiums off items not typically ordered.

Additional Considerations

Every party is different. So, additions can vary greatly, but we encourage everyone to make it their own. Whether that means a band or DJ, yard games, or even water related items for the kids, it’s all in good fun. Here are some things that we recommend thinking about…

Insects! That’s right, we’re outside! Fly fans are great for the table and food service areas. But you can also consider renting large fans for the area. Not only do they help us beat the heat, but they keep our little pesky friends away.

Trash Removal: Once the event is wrapped up and all the food is eaten, we tend to think it’s over. But there is always the trash. Very rarely does trash day align with your event, and crawfish can smell the longer they sit outside. If you don’t want to pay extra for trash removal, some tips are to keep them in a cool dry area out of the sun. This might not fully prevent the smell from setting in, but it might postpone it long enough for trash day to arrive. But we highly encourage having it taken off site.

Additional Food Options: You are bound to have those guests who are either allergic to or choose not to eat crawfish. Consider other food items so they don’t feel left out. But don’t go crazy. Afterall, you are inviting them to a crawfish boil. You want to make them feel valued without blowing your budget. We’ve done things such as Red Beans and Rice, Gumbo, even Burgers and Hot Dogs in the past. Again, don’t over order here. Consider the people who actually can’t eat crawfish because of an allergy or dietary restriction, not the person who just wants 5 different food options.

In Summary

At the end of the day, you want your guests to have an amazing time. But the reality is that we do have budgets, and if we can have a banger of an event AND stay within the budget, then that’s a win. At Clutch City Crawfish, we want all our clients to be informed and have the best event for THEIR needs, not just the standard needs. That’s why we take a very consultative approach to our business and don’t lean on cookie cutter packages. We say this all the time, every event is unique. They all require a different level of attention, and we are happy to provide that to all who reach out.

Use this article as a guide to determine what your event needs. From there, we can take the next steps together in determining what we can add on. Submit your inquiry today to start the process!!