Party Food and Drink Calculator
Enter how many guests are coming, how long the party lasts and whether you are serving a full meal or just snacks. The calculator gives quantities to shop and cook to.
Type a number and the answer appears straight away.
Drinks to have ready80 servings
- If all wine (5 glasses a bottle)
- 16 bottles
- If all beer or soft drinks
- 80 cans or bottles
- Ice
- 20 lb
- Cups
- 40
- Plates
- 40
- Napkins
- 60
An approximate guide built on catering rules of thumb: two drinks per guest in the first hour and one an hour after that. Hungry crowds, teenagers and evening parties need more.
| Food | Amount to buy or make |
|---|---|
| Appetizers before the meal | 80 pieces |
| Main dish (meat or fish, cooked weight) | 7.5 lb |
| Each side dish (plan 2 or 3) | 5 lb |
| Salad | 20 cups |
| Bread rolls | 30 |
| Dessert servings | 25 |
The math behind it: Party Food and Drink
drinks = guests x (2 in the first hour + 1 for each hour after)
For 20 guests over 3 hours, plan on 80 drinks, which is 16 bottles of wine if everyone drank wine, plus 20 lb of ice. With a full meal, allow about 6 oz of cooked meat or fish and two or three 4 oz sides per person.
These are catering rules of thumb and an approximate guide. Evening parties, hot weather, teenagers and hungry crowds all push the numbers up.
Common questions
How much food do I need per person for a party?
For a full meal, plan about 6 oz of cooked main dish, two or three sides of about 4 oz each, and a serving or so of dessert per guest. For 20 guests that is 7.5 lb of main dish.
How many drinks do I need for a party?
Allow two per guest for the first hour and one for every hour after that. Twenty guests at a three-hour party need about 80 drinks.
How many appetizers per person?
If appetizers are the only food, allow about 6 pieces per person per hour for the first two hours. If a meal follows, 4 pieces per person is enough.
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