Is it cheaper to order a bunch of pizzas from a restaurant or to make your own? People ask this every time they’re planning a party. The real answer is more interesting than most people expect — once you add up grocery costs, your time, and what can go wrong, the math shifts fast. Let’s do it side by side.
What DIY Pizza Actually Costs
A “DIY pizza party” sounds budget-friendly until you’re standing in the grocery store trying to figure out how many cans of sauce you need for 20 people. Here’s a realistic breakdown for a pizza party of 20 adults:
| DIY Item | Quantity for 20 | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-made dough or crusts | 6–8 crusts | $24–$40 |
| Pizza sauce (jarred) | 3–4 jars | $9–$14 |
| Shredded mozzarella | 3 lbs | $15–$20 |
| Toppings (pepperoni, sausage, veggies) | Assorted | $20–$35 |
| Paper plates, napkins, serving tools | Full set | $12–$18 |
| Foil, parchment, pizza stones (if needed) | Basic setup | $8–$15 |
| Total estimate | $88–$142 |
That estimate assumes you’re going to a store like H-E-B and buying the basics. It doesn’t include anything fancy — just enough to make 6–8 roughly 12-inch pizzas for 20 people.
It also doesn’t include your time. Shopping, prepping, stretching dough, managing oven rotations, cleaning up. If your oven holds one pizza at a time, you’re running 6–8 baking cycles. At 12–15 minutes each, that’s 90 minutes of active oven time just on cooking — before anyone eats. Plan on 3–4 hours total from start to finished table.
What Godfather’s Catering Actually Costs
Our catering for a group of 20 is straightforward. The Large Pizza Pack at $75.00 feeds 12–16 people — two of those covers 24–32 people depending on appetite. For exactly 20 people, two Large Packs is the right call.
| Godfather’s Option | Feeds | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 2× Large Pizza Pack | 24–32 | $150.00 |
| 2× Large Cheesesticks | Side for 20 | $24.48 |
| 2× Cinnamon Monkey Bread | Dessert for 20 | $15.58 |
| Total | 20 people, full spread | $190.06 |
That $190 gets you 8 large pizzas (with your choice of toppings), two large Cheesesticks, and dessert for 20 people. Everything is made fresh. No prep, no cleanup beyond the boxes. You order, we make it, you pick it up or we deliver. See full details on our our catering prices page.
If you want to go bigger or add wings, a Pizza & Wing Feast covers 5–7 people for $55.99. Stack a few of those alongside Pizza Packs for a group that wants variety. Check our 20-person guide for a complete headcount-to-pizza breakdown.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | DIY Pizza Party | Godfather’s Catering |
|---|---|---|
| Food cost (20 people) | $88–$142 | $150–$190 |
| Time required | 3–4 hours | 15–30 min (ordering + pickup) |
| Setup and cleanup | Full kitchen cleanup | Toss the boxes |
| Risk of mess or failure | Dough sticking, uneven baking, cold batches | None — it shows up hot |
| Variety | Limited to what you prep | 12+ specialty options, 3 crust options |
| True total cost (time included) | $188–$242 | $150–$190 |
What You Give Up With DIY
The cost comparison doesn’t capture everything. There are a few things DIY pizza loses to catering that have real value at a party:
Consistency. At home, no two pizzas come out the same. The first one might be perfect. The third one is lukewarm because the oven lost heat. At Godfather’s, every pizza in an order comes out of a commercial oven at the same calibrated temperature. They’re all hot, they’re all done the same way, and they’re ready at the same time.
Variety. When you make pizza at home, you’re limited to what you bought at the store. When you order from us, you have 12+ specialty options plus every crust variation. Our crust options alone — Original thick, Golden buttery-crispy, Thin — give the spread variety that a home kitchen just can’t replicate in one baking session.
Guest experience. When you’re making pizza at home for 20 people, you’re not at the party. You’re in the kitchen. Hosting a party where you spend three hours managing dough and oven cycles is not a great hosting experience. The whole point of a party is to be present with your guests — let someone else make the food.
The Verdict
On raw grocery cost alone, DIY comes out a little cheaper — maybe $40–$60 less for a group of 20 before you count your time. But once you factor in prep time, cleanup, and the risk that something goes sideways (dough that won’t stretch, an oven that runs cold, the middle pizzas that come out lukewarm), the gap closes fast.
For most people hosting a party of 20, catering from Godfather’s is equal or cheaper on a true cost basis — and it removes three hours of work from your plate. That’s time you spend with your guests instead of in the kitchen.
DIY makes sense if you genuinely enjoy the pizza-making process as part of the event (think: interactive pizza night where guests build their own). For any event where the goal is just feeding people well without stress, ordering is the better call.
Our large group orders are handled over the phone — call us at (210) 750-2222 and we’ll size it out for whatever your headcount is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to make pizza at home or order for a party of 20?
On pure grocery cost, homemade is slightly cheaper — roughly $88–$142 vs. $150–$190 for Godfather’s. But once you add 3–4 hours of your time, homemade stops being the budget option. For most people, the convenience and consistency of ordering wins at any group size above 10.
How much does pizza catering cost per person at Godfather’s?
For a group of 20 with two Large Pizza Packs, sides, and dessert, you’re looking at around $9.50 per person. That’s $190 total for pizza, Cheesesticks, and Cinnamon Monkey Bread. Just pizza and no sides comes in around $7.50 per person. Full pricing is on our catering prices page.
What’s included in Godfather’s catering packages?
Our Large Pizza Pack includes four large 1-topping pizzas. Our Build Your Own Feast includes one specialty pizza, one 1-topping pizza, and a side. Our Pizza & Wing Feast swaps the side for a full order of wings. All packages start at $35.99 for mediums. Call (210) 750-2222 for any custom sizing questions.
Can you make pizza at home for a large group of 40+ people?
You can, but it gets complicated fast. A standard home oven handles one or two pizzas at a time, which means 20+ baking cycles for a group of 40. You’d be cooking for 4–5 hours and some guests eat at 6pm while others eat at 9pm. For a group that size, ordering is a much more practical option.
You’ve got enough to handle at a party. Let us take care of the food. We’re a Veteran-Owned local shop on the west side of San Antonio off 151, and we’ve been feeding San Antonio gatherings since we brought Godfather’s back after 35 years away. The pizza is the real deal — and it shows up hot.