Cutlery is one of the most overlooked hire categories, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Under-ordering by 10% ruins a seated service. Ordering the wrong grade turns a formal dinner table into something that looks closer to a works canteen. This guide covers everything you need to get the count right and choose the correct specification for your event.
\\n\\nCutlery is graded by its steel composition. The two numbers refer to chromium and nickel content.
\\n18/0 stainless steel is 18% chromium, 0% nickel. It is the industry standard for event hire. Polished to a bright mirror finish, it works across corporate dinners, weddings, and catering contracts. It holds its appearance well in repeated commercial use and is the specification used across the Expo Hire range.
\\n18/10 stainless steel adds 10% nickel, which increases corrosion resistance and gives the steel a slightly warmer tone. It is more common in permanent restaurant settings than in hire. For most events, 18/0 is the correct choice.
\\nWeight matters too. Heavy-gauge cutlery feels substantial in the hand and signals quality to guests. Lighter pieces are fine for outdoor catering and high-volume buffets where guests are less focused on the table setting itself.
\\n\\nA standard three-course dinner place setting requires a table knife, table fork, dessert spoon, and dessert fork. Add a side knife if you are serving bread. Add a soup spoon if the starter is served in a bowl.
\\n| Course | Piece required |
|---|---|
| Main course | Table knife + table fork |
| Starter (plated) | Side knife + side fork |
| Starter (soup) | Soup spoon |
| Dessert | Dessert spoon + dessert fork |
| Bread | Side knife |
| Tea and coffee | Teaspoon |
For a full formal place setting with all courses, you need 7 pieces per cover. For a simple two-course meal, 4 pieces is enough. Add 5 to 10% to your cover count for breakage, drops, and late guest list changes.
\\n\\nTake your confirmed guest count, multiply by the pieces per cover you need, then add 10%. Round up to the nearest complete set. For buffet events running multiple sittings, calculate per sitting rather than total attendance. If you are running a buffet without table service, soup spoons and dessert forks are rarely needed in full quantities.
\\n\\nTeaspoons are the most under-ordered cutlery item. A guest who stirs a coffee puts the teaspoon down somewhere that is not the saucer. At scale, teaspoons disappear from circulation fast. For tea and coffee service after a seated dinner, order 1.5 teaspoons per cover minimum. For a longer reception with several rounds of hot drinks, order two per cover.
\\n\\nBowl food events and informal buffets have a different profile. Guests often need only a fork or spoon, depending on the food served. A grazing table with finger food may need no cutlery at all. A street food station may need one piece per guest. Confirm with your caterer before placing the order.
\\n\\nExpo Hire collects all cutlery unwashed. Separate cutlery from glassware and crockery into the correct crates at collection time. Damaged or missing items are covered by the Free Minor Damage Waiver included on every order.
\\n\\nCutlery arrives packed in crates, counted and inspected before dispatch. Delivery is available Monday to Sunday across England and Wales. Sunday collection is available, which most hire companies do not offer.
\\n\\nBrowse the full range on the cutlery hire page, or use live chat if you want help calculating quantities for a specific menu.
\nFor more information, read our Cutlery Hire Guide.
