Calculators
How Much Food for a Party?
Party food math is per-guest weights times headcount, rounded up to whole pounds and pieces. This preset uses 75 guests, three hours, and beer-and-wine-only drinks with a buffet-style menu.
Controls below cover protein, sides, appetizer pieces, and dessert servings. Drink totals follow the same duration heuristic as the bar calculator.
Estimates only. Print at 100% with scaling off.
75 guests · 3 hours · Beer and wine only · 56 drinking · 19 not drinking
| Category | Needed | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Beer | 134.4 drinks | 6 cases |
| Wine | 89.6 drinks | 18 × 750 ml |
| Main protein (cooked serve) | 24.8 lb cooked | 24.8 lb on the plate |
| Main protein (raw purchase) | 24.8 lb cooked | 36 lb raw at the store |
| Sides | 37.5 lb total | 38 lb |
| Appetizers | 900 pieces | 900 pieces |
| Dessert | 82.5 servings | 83 servings |
Assumptions
- Drinking share: 75% of headcount (56 drinking guests)
- Duration: 3 hours → 4 drinks per drinking guest
- Bar split: 60% beer, 40% wine, 0% spirits
- Pour sizes: 5 oz wine, 1.5 oz spirits, 4 oz sparkling
- Ice: 1.5 lb per guest (60% chilling, 40% serving)
- Mixers: 2 L per 750 ml spirits bottle
- Main protein: 0.33 lb cooked per guest
- Raw purchase weight: cooked ÷ 0.7 shrink factor
- Sides: 2 × 0.25 lb per guest
- Appetizers: 6 pieces first hour, 3 per hour after
- Dessert: 1.1 servings per guest
Supplies checklist
- Ice — 6 bags (20 lb each)
- Cups — 150 (2 per guest)
- Napkins — 225 (3 per guest)
- Garnish (citrus, olives, cherries)
- Serving utensils and bar tools
- Coolers and ice tubs
Estimates only. Adjust the per-guest rates for your crowd.
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