Quick answer
- US: a typical mobile bar event totals about $750, with most between $450 and $1,275.1
- Full-service mobile bars price at roughly $75-$150 an hour, $10-$25 per guest, or $900-$3,800 as a package.2 A bartender for hire, labor only, runs $35-$65 an hour.7
- Canada: one Canadian mobile bar charges $300 CAD an hour plus $5 per person for extra hours;8 renting a 6-foot mobile bar in Toronto costs about $150 for the day.9
Four ways mobile bars price
| Model | Published range | What the client gets |
|---|---|---|
| Bartender only (hourly) | $35-$65/hr labor only7; at least $40-$60/hr plus a flat fee3 | Your time and skill; the client supplies alcohol, mixers and the bar. |
| Full-service hourly | $75-$150/hr2 | Bartender plus bar setup, mixers, garnish, ice and tools. |
| Per guest | $10-$25 per guest2 | Scales with headcount - easy for clients to budget. |
| Packages | $900-$3,8002; $500-$2,500+7; base packages around $4991 | A set menu, hours and setup for a fixed price. |
"Dry hire" means the client buys the alcohol and you bring the service. Many mobile bars work this way because licensing to sell alcohol is complex and varies by state and province.
What a typical event comes to
Check Cherry's data puts the typical mobile bar event at about $750, with most between $450 and $1,275 and a base bar package around $499.1 One company's published menu runs from $305 for a bartender only up to $685-$1,390 for full packages.5 Weddings, bigger guest counts and signature cocktail menus push events to the top of those ranges.
How much should you charge for private bartending?
For a private party where you bring only yourself, start from the $35-$65 an hour labor-only range7 and add a flat fee for setup, prep and travel - Thumbtack notes clients should expect a flat fee on top of the hourly rate,3 and other guides start hourly bartending rates around $40.4 Set a minimum number of hours (often 3-4) so short parties still cover your prep and drive. If you bring the bar, mixers and garnish, move to full-service pricing.
Start-up costs set your floor
Starting with a portable bar setup instead of a custom trailer costs roughly $2,000-$5,000.6 Add insurance (liquor liability insurance is often required by venues), tools, glassware, a vehicle and marketing. Spread those costs across the events you expect in a year to see what each event must bring in before you pay yourself.
Mobile bartending in Canada
- Extra hours: one Canadian mobile bar lists additional hours at $300 an hour plus $5 per person, with a $3,500 minimum spend for cash bars.8
- Bar rental: a 6-foot mobile bar runs about $150 for the day in Toronto.9
- Server certification: provinces require it for anyone serving alcohol - Smart Serve in Ontario and Serving It Right in British Columbia, for example. Check your province's rules.
- Permits: events where alcohol is served or sold may need a special event permit, depending on the province and venue. Many mobile bars work as dry hire for this reason.
Quote in CAD before tax, and register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters.
Common questions
How do I price mobile bartending?
Choose a model - hourly, per guest or packages. Published full-service ranges are $75-$150 an hour, $10-$25 per guest or $900-$3,800 per package, and the typical event totals about $750.
How much should you charge for private bartending?
For bartending only, about $35-$65 an hour plus a flat fee for setup and travel, with a minimum number of hours.
How much does it cost to start a mobile bartending business?
Starting with a portable bar instead of a custom trailer costs roughly $2,000-$5,000, before insurance, glassware and a vehicle.
What is dry hire?
The client buys the alcohol and the mobile bar provides the bartenders, setup and service - common because selling alcohol needs licenses that vary by state and province.
What do I need to run a mobile bar in Canada?
Provincial server certification (such as Smart Serve in Ontario or Serving It Right in BC), liquor liability insurance, and, depending on the event, a special event permit. Quote in CAD and register for GST/HST past $30,000.
Let clients book by the hour with your minimum built in
On 1MinuteBooking, clients book bartending by the hour with your minimum, add a second bartender, a bar cart or glassware, and give you the venue. Free plan, no time limit.
See the mobile bar booking pageSources
- Check Cherry, How Much Does a Mobile Bartender Cost? A Pricing Guide
- Cedar Trailer, Mobile Bar Pricing: Set Rates That Make Your Business
- Thumbtack, Mobile bartending professionals near Los Angeles, CA
- Potions in Motion, Mobile Bartender Rates & Costs: Hire a Pro for Your Event
- Boozers Bartending, Mobile Bartender Service Packages – Boozersbartending (one company's published packages)
- Mobile Bev Pros, How Much Does It Cost to Start a Mobile Bar Business?
- EventStaff, Bartender for Hire Cost vs. Mobile Bar: A 2025 Price Guide
- Dark Horse Mobile Bars (Canada), Request A Quote (one company's published pricing)
- Apex Bar Services (Toronto), How Much Does a Mobile Bartender Cost in Toronto
Prices are what these sources published as of September-October 2026. Rates vary by city, season and the job itself - use them as a starting point, not a rule.