Party food calculator: how much food and drink to buy
Tell it who is coming, how long the party runs and what you are serving. It works out the appetizers, main, sides and dessert, the wine, beer, soft drinks and ice, and the plates, cups and napkins, then prints a shopping list to tick off. Free, no sign-up, and nothing leaves your browser.
1. Your guests
2. What you're serving
What to buy
Pass the Toast: try it free
A gentle pass-the-phone game for bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and holiday tables: 72 original prompts, anyone can pass, no names and no scores.
Plan the whole party, not just the food
This tool does the amounts once. The planners keep the guest list, menu, who brings what and the day-of run sheet together.
Guest list, menu, drinks, budget and a run sheet for the night.
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Party food and drink questions
How many appetizers per person for a party?
A common rule of thumb: when no meal is served, plan about 6 pieces a guest for the first hour and 4 for each hour after. Before a sit-down dinner, 4 to 6 pieces a guest is plenty. Children usually eat about half as much.
How much wine and beer do I need?
Plan about 2 drinks for each guest who drinks in the first hour and 1 each hour after. A 750 ml bottle of wine pours about 5 glasses, and a 750 ml bottle of liquor makes about 16 mixed drinks. Pick the mix that sounds like your crowd and the calculator splits it.
How much ice for a party?
About 1 1/2 lb a guest for drinks, or 2 lb if you are serving cocktails. If you are chilling bottles and cans in a tub or cooler, buy that much again.
How much food per person for a dinner party?
About 1/2 lb of raw boneless meat or fish per adult (double for bone-in), about 1/2 cup of each side dish, and one and a half rolls and dessert servings a guest.
Are these amounts exact?
No. They are planning rules of thumb gathered from common hosting and catering advice. Big eaters, a long night or a meal time push the numbers up, so round up and keep a back-up in the freezer.
Does this save anything?
No. Everything is worked out in your browser and nothing is stored or sent. Print the shopping list before you close the page.