Chafing Dish and Catering Equipment Rental
Chafing dish rental at Celebrate spans six chafer styles (full pan, half pan, round, oval, roll top and soup) in sizes from 4 to 9.5 quarts. The same catering catalog holds coffee urns, grills, a turkey fryer and a chocolate fountain for a buffet or holiday spread.
What catering equipment do you need to feed a crowd?
A chafing dish keeps food at serving temperature with a steam pan over a small fuel can. A buffet also needs a coffee urn for drinks, and grills or a fryer if cooking happens on site, each sized to match the menu rather than the guest count.
This is equipment only: no food, catering staff or kitchen service comes with the order. You or your caterer run the buffet once it is in place.
Catering equipment quick facts
- Chafer styles
- Six styles, 4 to 9.5 quarts
- Urn sizes
- 55 cup and 60 cup urns, plus a 2.2 liter airpot
- Grills
- 24x60 on wheels, 24x48 round and 24x48 square
- Fuel
- Sterno 2 hour cans heat each chafer
- Griddle
- 24 inch by 36 inch flat top
- Crew
- Our crew delivers and picks up every order
Chafing dish styles and pan sizes
A full pan chafer holds 8 quarts, built for a turkey, ham or a long entree line. The other five styles each fit a different dish, and the chart below lists each one's pan size. An electric 3 pan warmer is also in the catalog for a room where flame fuel is not wanted.
Browse every chafer size in our chafer catalog, and pair the buffet with matching plates and flatware from our tableware rentals.
Coffee urns for a crowd
A 55 cup urn plugs into a standard outlet and holds up to 55 cups, and a 60 cup urn works the same way for a larger order. Pair either one with Tuxton 8 oz coffee cups or clear Apple coffee cups from the tableware catalog.
Our full written brew steps are in the coffee urn instructions you can print and keep by the pot.
Which chafer fits which dish?
The chart pairs each chafer with the dish it holds best, with its pan size in quarts. The smallest is a 4 quart round and the largest a 9.5 quart oval. Use the sizes to plan how many chafers the menu needs, one per hot dish on the line.
| Chafer style | Pan size | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Full pan | 8 Qt | Turkey, ham or a full entree line |
| Half pan | 2.5 to 4 inches deep | Sides like stuffing or green beans |
| Round | 4 Qt | Gravy, sauces or small sides |
| Oval | 6 to 9.5 Qt | Whole roasts or large cuts |
| Roll top | 8 Qt | A buffet that stays covered between visits |
| Soup | 7 Qt | Chowder, chili or bisque |
A 3 pan electric warmer runs all three wells off one cord instead of fuel cans, handy for an indoor buffet near an outlet. Not sure which style fits your table? Call (406) 837-3040 and we will match it to your menu.
What grills and fryers can you rent for a Thanksgiving crowd?
A turkey fryer cooks a whole turkey outdoors, as its own catalog rental. Grills run from a 24 by 60 inch model on wheels to 24 by 48 inch round and square styles, plus a 24 by 36 inch griddle for flat top cooking.
A BBQ serving set keeps the carving station organized next to the grill, with platters and tools sized for a crowd rather than a kitchen counter.
How a catering equipment rental works
A catering equipment order starts with your guest count and menu, so chafers, urns and grills match what you are serving. We pull the gear and have it on site before service begins. Fuel cans, urns and grills go on the same quote as the chafers.
Tell us the headcount
Tell us the guest count and menu, so we match chafers, urns and grills.
We pull the gear
Chafers, fuel, urns and grills come out of our warehouse, ready to run.
We deliver it
Our crew brings the order to your site in the Flathead Valley and sets it up.
You run the party
Light the fuel cans, plug in the urn, and the buffet holds its heat.
Catering equipment ready to deliver
Buffet equipment on the line
Service area for catering rentals
Catering equipment goes to Kalispell, Whitefish and the other towns on our delivery list, including Columbia Falls, Lakeside and Polson. Our crew brings the chafers, urns and grills with the rest of the order and collects every piece once the event is over.
- Bigfork
- Kalispell
- Whitefish
- Also serving: Lakeside, Columbia Falls, Polson, West Glacier, Swan Lake, Condon and Missoula
Outside these towns? Call (406) 837-3040.
- Where we deliver, set and strike
- Our showroom in Bigfork
- ZIP code and county lines
Catering rental questions
Is there a smaller coffee option than the big urn?
Yes, a 2.2 liter airpot covers a small gathering when you do not need the big urn.
Can I rent a turkey fryer for Thanksgiving?
Yes, our turkey fryer rents alongside the rest of our catering equipment, so it can go on the same quote as your chafers and tables.
Do chafing dish rentals include fuel cans?
Sterno 2 hour fuel cans rent as their own line item in our catalog, so you can order enough for every chafer and burner on the buffet.
Do you rent coolers or beverage dispensers for a party?
Yes, our food and beverage coolers and dispensers range from galvanized tubs to beverage jars with a stand, for drinks next to the buffet.
Can I rent a chocolate fountain for a dessert table?
Yes, we carry a commercial chocolate fountain and a Sephra milk chocolate model, both suited to a dessert table set apart from the main buffet line.
Can I rent chafers and tables in one order?
Yes, pair your chafers and buffet setup with tables and chairs from the same quote.
How much does a chafing dish rental cost?
Price depends on your date, headcount and what else is on the order. Send the menu with your quote request, and we come back with a clear number up front.
Plan the rest of the buffet
From the Celebrate blog
Friendsgiving Party Ideas for Every GuestFriendsgiving party ideas for a big group in the Flathead Valley: how to seat everyone, set a full place for each guest, and add a tent if the house runs out.
Holiday Party Planning Checklist for Flathead ValleyA holiday party planning checklist for Flathead Valley hosts: guest count, venue, tables, linens, heating and lighting, in the order to plan them.