How Much Food for a Party?
Hosting and not sure how much to buy? Enter your headcount, how long people will stay, and the style of the party — we'll break down appetizers, mains, drinks, dessert and ice.
Rough amounts per guest
| Item | Per guest | Notes |
|---|
| Appetizers | 4–8 pieces | more if they're the meal |
| Main course | 6 oz cooked | for a sit-down meal |
| Drinks | 1 per hour | plus one for the road |
| Ice | 1–1.5 lb | for chilling + cups |
How it works
Catering rules of thumb scale with headcount and time. Plan roughly one drink per guest per hour, and appetizers by whether they're the meal (about 8 pieces each) or a warm-up (about 4). For a sit-down meal, count on around 6 oz of cooked protein plus sides per person. The tool turns your guest count, party length and style into a shopping list.
Frequently asked
How many appetizers per person?
About 4 pieces if a meal follows, or 8 or more if the appetizers are the meal. We scale by the party style you pick.
How much should I plan for drinks?
Roughly one drink per guest per hour, plus a buffer. A 20-person party for 3 hours needs around 80 servings.
How much main course per person?
For a full sit-down meal, plan about 6 ounces of cooked protein per guest, plus sides.
How much ice do I need for a party?
Plan about 1 to 1½ pounds per guest, more in hot weather or if you're chilling drinks in tubs.
How far ahead can I prep party food?
Cold dips, dressings and chopped veg keep a day ahead; fry and bake hot appetizers as close to serving as you can.
Generate personalised recipes at RecipeBot. Free to try — no credit card needed.