Party Food Calculator
How much food to buy for a party — mains, sides, nibbles and bread — scaled by guest count, how long it runs and how hungry the crowd is.
Catering quantities come from per-person allowances adjusted for three things: the length of the event, whether it is a meal or grazing, and the mix of guests.
How the party food calculator works
Catering quantities come from per-person allowances adjusted for three things: the length of the event, whether it is a meal or grazing, and the mix of guests. A two-hour drinks party needs a fraction of what a four-hour dinner does, and appetite is not linear — people eat most in the first hour and then taper.
The usual mistake is scaling everything by headcount alone. Sides and bread flatten out as numbers rise, because variety substitutes for volume: twenty people with four dishes eat less of each than five people with one.
Formula: per person × guests × duration factor × appetite factor
Worked examples
| Inputs | Main protein | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 20 guests, 4-hour barbecue | 4 kg | 4 kg of meat, 3.4 kg of sides |
| 30 for a 2-hour drinks party | 1.8 kg | much less food, more canapés |
| 12 for a sit-down dinner | 3.8 kg | 3.75 kg |
FAQFrequently asked questions
How much meat per person for a barbecue?
About 200 g of raw protein for a mixed crowd at a buffet, a little more for a hungry one and less for a short drinks party.
How many canapés per person?
Four to six for an hour or two before a meal; eight to ten if the canapés are the meal.
Should I buy extra?
Buy for about 10% more than confirmed numbers. Running out is a worse problem than leftovers, and leftovers are usually welcome.
Does the length of the party matter?
Yes, but not proportionally — people eat most in the first hour or two and taper afterwards.
How many dishes should I make?
Four or five smaller dishes beat two enormous ones. Variety fills plates faster than volume, so you need less of each.
Where these figures come from
- US FDA — Safe Minimum Internal Temperatures — the internal temperatures the roasting calculator targets
- NIST SP 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units — the exact weight and volume conversions used throughout
- UK Food Standards Agency — food safety and labelling standards
Last checked: September 2026. Baking ratios follow standard baker's percentage practice; roasting guidance follows published safe internal temperatures.