Party Food Calculator
Plan quantities of appetizers, mains, sides, dessert, drinks and ice for your guest list.
How to use the Party Food Calculator
- Enter the adults.
- Enter the children – Counted as about half an adult portion of food.
- Choose the type of event.
- Enter the length of party.
- Press Calculate. The result updates automatically as you type, and you can switch the result unit at any time.
About the Party Food Calculator
Running out of food is stressful, but over-buying is expensive. These rules of thumb, commonly used by caterers and home hosts, give a solid starting point. Adjust for your crowd: teenagers and sports fans eat more, while an afternoon event with lots of variety needs a bit less of each item. The more choices you offer, the smaller each portion can be.
For drinks, plan on two per guest in the first hour and one per hour after that, and have water available for everyone. Buy more ice than you think if you are also chilling bottles in coolers.
Formula
food portions = adults + ½ × children
appetizers: 5 pieces per person before a meal, 4 with a full meal, or 12 pieces for the first 2 hours plus 4 per extra hour when appetizers are the meal
main: 6 oz cooked boneless (¾ lb bone-in raw) per person; sides: 4 oz each
drinks: 2 in the first hour + 1 per additional hour per guest; ice: 1½ lb per guest
Example calculation
Using the default values:
- Adults = 20
- Children = 5
- Type of event = Full meal / buffet
- Length of party = 3 hours
the calculator returns:
- Appetizer pieces: 90
- Drinks (servings): 100
- Ice: 38 lb
Frequently asked questions
How many appetizers per person for a party?
About 4–6 pieces per person if a meal follows, or 12–15 pieces per person over a 2–3 hour party where appetizers replace dinner.
How much meat per person for a party?
Plan on about 6 ounces of cooked boneless meat, or 3/4 pound of raw bone-in meat, per adult.
How much ice do I need for a party?
About 1 to 2 pounds per guest, more in hot weather or if you are chilling drinks in coolers.
Last updated: · Category: Cooking calculators