Estimate how much food and drink to prepare for your event. Select the event type and number of guests for recommended quantities.
Appetizers
4 oz (~2 pieces) per person
6.3 lbs
Main Course
8 oz per person
12.5 lbs
Side Dishes
6 oz per person
9.4 lbs
Dessert
4 oz per person
6.3 lbs
Drinks
75 servings
Ice
38 lbs
Napkins
75
Appetizers
4 oz (~2 pieces)
Main Course
8 oz
Side Dishes
6 oz
Dessert
4 oz
What each guest receives at your sit-down dinner
Quantities to purchase for 25 guests
Appetizers
100 oz total
6.3 lbs
13.8 kg
Main Course
200 oz total
12.5 lbs
27.6 kg
Side Dishes
150 oz total
9.4 lbs
20.7 kg
Dessert
100 oz total
6.3 lbs
13.8 kg
Drinks
3 per guest
75 servings
Ice
1.5 lbs per guest
38 lbs
Napkins
3 per guest
75
How your gathering compares
Intimate
2-8 guests
Close friends & family
Small
9-20 guests
Casual get-together
Medium
21-50 guests
Full-size party
YOUR PARTYLarge
50+ guests
Event / celebration
Pro tip: Plan for 10-15% more food than calculated to account for big eaters and unexpected guests. For a 3-hour sit-down dinner, consider refreshing appetizers halfway through.
The biggest mistake in party planning is underestimating appetizers and overestimating the main course. Guests tend to eat more at the start, especially during cocktail hour. Offer a variety of options including at least one vegetarian dish. For buffets, plan 2-3 more dishes than you think you need — even small portions of variety make a buffet feel generous. And always have 10-15% more food than calculated to be safe.
For a sit-down dinner, plan about 6-8 oz of main course, 4-6 oz of sides, and 3-4 oz of appetizers per person. For a cocktail party with only appetizers, plan 8-12 pieces per person for a 2-3 hour event. It's always better to have a little extra than to run short.
Plan on 2-3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 drink per person per hour after that. For a 3-hour event, that's about 3-4 drinks per guest. Provide a mix of alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. One bottle of wine serves about 5 glasses.
Plan about 1.5 pounds of ice per person. If it's hot outside or you're serving a lot of cold drinks, increase to 2 pounds per person. Don't forget to account for ice to keep food cold — that's separate from drink ice.
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