Party Food Calculator
How much food, drink and ice to get for a party, by the number of guests.
Good to know. Nobody remembers a party that had too much food. Everybody remembers the one that ran out.
Approximate. Real-world values vary.
How it works
In plain words
Count children as half an adult. For a drinks party, allow 10 appetiser pieces a person for two hours and 2 more for each extra hour; before a meal, 4 to 6. For the meal, about 170 g (6 oz) of meat or fish and 150 g of each side a person. Drinks: 2 per adult in the first hour and 1 in each hour after.
The formula
guests = adults + children ÷ 2 appetisers = guests × pieces per person main = guests × 170 g · sides = guests × 150 g each drinks = adults × (2 + hours − 1)
Worked example
For 20 adults over 3 hours with a buffet: 6 appetiser pieces each is 120, then 3.4 kg of meat or fish, 3.0 kg of each side, and 80 drinks.
Sources
No outside data or rates: this is plain arithmetic.
4 automated tests check its answers on every change.
About the party food calculator
Working out quantities for a party is guesswork until you use the same rules of thumb caterers do. This calculator starts from the number of guests, how long the party lasts and what kind of food you are serving, and gives shopping quantities for appetisers, a main course, sides, bread, dessert, drinks, water and ice.
Appetisers go further when there is a meal: 4 to 6 pieces a person before a sit-down dinner or buffet, but 10 to 12 for a two-hour drinks party where they are the food, and a couple more for every hour after that. For the main course, allow about 170 g (6 oz) of cooked meat or fish per person, or a little more for bone-in cuts, and 150 g of each of two side dishes.
For drinks, the usual rule is two drinks per adult in the first hour and one an hour after that, whatever mix of wine, beer and soft drinks you serve. A 75 cl bottle of wine pours about five glasses. Always add water and soft drinks for drivers and children, and about half a kilo (a pound) of ice per guest, more on a hot day.
Children are counted as half an adult. Adjust for your crowd: teenagers and hungry sports teams eat more, a mid-afternoon party less. It is better to have a little too much; most leftovers freeze.
Questions people ask
How many appetizers per person for a party?
10–12 pieces for a two-hour drinks party with no meal, and 4–6 if a meal follows.
How much meat per person for a buffet?
About 170 g (6 oz) of cooked meat or fish per adult, or 200–250 g if the meat is on the bone.
How many drinks per person at a party?
Two in the first hour and one each hour after: about 4 drinks per adult for a three-hour party.