Party food calculator
Type in your guests and pick the kind of food. The amounts below follow the rules of thumb caterers use, with a little extra built in so you run out of guests before you run out of food.
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Every number above starts with the guest count. Ask for replies by a date and make replying one tap, so the count is the real one.
Get a headcount, freeGuests reply with their name and plus-ones. No account for them, none for you to start.
The rules of thumb behind the numbers
| Item | Per adult | Per child |
|---|---|---|
| Pizza as the meal | 3 slices | 2 slices |
| Finger food, no meal | 10 to 12 pieces for 2 to 3 hours, then 4 to 6 an hour | half |
| BBQ meat, raw weight | 250 g / ½ lb | 125 g / ¼ lb |
| Buffet main, cooked | 180 g / 6 oz | 90 g / 3 oz |
| Salads and sides, total | 200 g / 7 oz | 100 g / 3.5 oz |
| Bread rolls | 1.5 | 1 |
| Dessert | 1 portion | 1 portion |
These are the standard catering planning figures. The calculator adds 10 percent as a buffer and 20 percent more for a hungry crowd. A party that runs past five hours needs a second round of snacks, which is included.
Questions people ask
- How much pizza do I need for 20 people?
- Plan three slices per adult and two per child. For 20 adults that is 60 slices, or eight large pizzas cut into eight. If pizza is a snack rather than the meal, two slices per adult is enough.
- How much finger food per person for a party?
- If there is no meal, plan 10 to 12 pieces per person for a two to three hour party, and 4 to 6 pieces per hour after that. If dinner follows, 4 to 6 pieces per person covers the first hour.
- How much meat do I need for a BBQ?
- About 250 grams (half a pound) of meat per adult before cooking, and half that for children. In burgers and sausages that is roughly two items per adult and one per child, plus buns to match and a couple of spares per ten guests.
- How do I know how many people are coming?
- Ask for a reply with a date on it, and make replying one tap. A free sign-up page lets guests reply with their name and plus-ones, no account, so the number you put into this calculator is a real one.