New: the free 12-step MobCater startup guide is now in the app. Open the app →

How Much Cost per Day to Run the Trailer

by Wayne
(BedfordshireHertfordshire)


Hello,

Can I have an idea of how much it costs to run a trailer/van per day please in terms of gas/electric/generator?
I am trying to budget how much I need to make a day to pay for the trailer etc and see if it is viable for me.

Comments for How Much Cost per Day to Run the Trailer

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		UK Running Costs for a Small Catering Trailer/van
by: MobCater

Hi,

Great question – this is exactly what you should be thinking about before spending money on a trailer.

Below are very rough, typical UK daily running costs for a small catering trailer/van. The real numbers depend on your menu, equipment and how busy you are, but this will give you a ballpark.

1. Gas (LPG) – for fryers / griddles / coffee machines

Most trailers use 13kg or 19kg LPG bottles.

Very rough examples:

Light use (coffee machine, light cooking)
A 19kg bottle might last 3–4 trading days.
If a bottle costs about £40, that’s roughly £10–£13 per day.

Medium–heavy use (griddle, fryer, etc.)
A 19kg bottle might only last 1–2 days.
That could be £20–£40 per day in gas.

So for budgeting, most people allow somewhere between £10 and £30 per day for LPG, depending on how gas-hungry their kit is.

2. Generator costs (if you’re not on electric hookup)

You can think of generator cost as:

Fuel used per hour × hours open × fuel price

Example (petrol generator):

Generator uses about 1 litre per hour

You trade 8 hours

Fuel is about £1.50 per litre

Daily cost ≈ 1 × 8 × £1.50 = £12 per day

If it’s a bigger generator or running harder, it could be £15–£25 per day.

LPG generators are similar:
If a 19kg LPG bottle (about £40) lasts 2 full days, that’s ~£20 per day.

For planning, most small trailers allow £10–£25 per day for generator fuel.

3. Electric hookup (instead of a generator)

If you’re on a site with electric:

Some landlords charge a flat fee, often £10–£25 per day.

Others charge per unit (kWh). A small trailer might use 8–15 kWh per day, so at around 30p per kWh that’s £2.40–£4.50, but many sites add a markup, so it often still ends up around £10–£20 per day.

For a simple budget, assume £10–£20 per day for electric if it’s not included in your pitch fee.

4. How to work out what you need to earn per day

A simple way:

Add your daily running costs
Example:

Gas: £15 per day

Generator or electric: £15 per day
Total energy cost ≈ £30 per day

Add a daily share of your fixed costs

Pitch fee / rent

Insurance

Van/trailer finance or loan

Licences, storage, etc.

For example, if all fixed costs are £1,500 per month and you plan to trade 20 days, that’s £75 per day fixed.

Daily "break-even" target
Using the above example:

Energy: £30

Fixed costs: £75
Your break-even is £105 per day before paying yourself or buying stock.

Add food/drink stock and your wage
That might easily push your target to £250–£400+ per day, depending on your menu and prices.

5. Short, honest summary

Gas for a typical trailer: roughly £10–£30 per day

Generator or electric: roughly £10–£25 per day

Real "must earn" number is much higher once you add pitch fees, insurance, loan, stock and your own wage.

We hope these estimates give a better idea of the daily running estimates for you.

Disclaimer
These are rough example figures based on typical UK setups. Fuel and gas prices change and every trailer is different. Always check current prices and do your own sums for your exact equipment and trading hours.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Mobile Food Trailers - Questions.

Your first trading day is closer than you think

Start free today with the 12-step guide, and skip the trial and error most new caterers learn the hard way.

Start the free 12-step guide