20 guests, 3-hour buffet
About 25 lb of food, 80 drinks, 20 lb of ice and 40 plates.
Party food calculator
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Rules of thumb for adults. Snacks only: 6 bites each in the first hour and 4 each hour after. Buffet: 4 bites, 8 oz of main dish and 8 oz of sides each. Sit-down: 3 bites, 6 oz main and 6 oz sides. Two drinks each in the first hour, one an hour after, and 1 lb of ice a guest.
hours
Food served
Food to make
25.0 lb
For 20 guests over 3 hours: about 11.3 kg of food in total, 80 drinks and 20 lb of ice. Add 10% if most guests are big eaters.
- Appetizer bites
- 80
- Drinks
- 80
- Ice
- 20 lb
- Plates
- 40
Appetizers5.0 lb
Main dish10.0 lb
Sides10.0 lb
Party shopping list
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Appetizer bites | 80 |
| Main dish | 10.0 lb |
| Side dishes | 10.0 lb |
| Bread rolls | 30 |
| Dessert servings | 20 |
| Drinks | 80 |
| Ice | 20 lb |
| Plates | 40 |
| Cups | 60 |
| Napkins | 60 |
Planning party food by the numbers
Caterers plan food by weight per guest, and the same rules of thumb work for a home party. The amount depends most on whether the food is the meal itself or just something to snack on.
For a 3-hour buffet with 20 guests, plan about 4 appetizer bites each, 8 oz of main dish and 8 oz of sides. That is 80 bites, 10 lb of main and 10 lb of sides, about 25 lb of food in all. Drinks come to 80: two each in the first hour and one each in the next two. Add 20 lb of ice.
If you serve snacks only, people eat more of them. Plan 6 bites a guest in the first hour and 4 for every hour after, so 14 bites each over 3 hours. At a sit-down meal people take less than at a buffet, so 6 oz of main and 6 oz of sides is usually enough.
Adjust for your crowd. Teenagers and big eaters can take 25% more, and a party with children can take less. Keep cold food cold and hot food hot, and do not leave it out for more than two hours.
Sources
What this calculator does not account for
- Based on average adult appetites.
- Adjust for kids, big eaters and hot days.
How this is calculated
Formula: Food per guest
food (oz) =guests × (appetizer bites + main dish oz + sides oz)What the symbols mean
- appetizer bitesAbout 1 oz each. 6 per guest in the first hour of a snacks-only party, 4 each hour after.
- main and sides8 oz each at a buffet, 6 oz each at a sit-down meal.
Good to know
- Drinks = guests × (2 + 1 for each hour after the first).
- To share the cost, use the bill splitter.
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<iframe src="/embed/party-food-calculator" title="Party food" width="100%" height="720" style="border:0;max-width:42rem" loading="lazy"></iframe>Questions
How much food per person for a party?
About 1 to 1.25 lb of food per adult for a meal, including appetizers, main dish and sides.
How much food for 20 guests?
For a 3-hour buffet, about 25 lb in total: 80 appetizer bites, 10 lb of main dish and 10 lb of sides.
How many drinks per person at a party?
Two in the first hour and one each hour after. A 3-hour party is about 4 drinks each.
How much ice do I need for a party?
About 1 lb per guest, or 2 lb on a hot day or if you are chilling drinks in coolers.
How many appetizers per person with no meal?
About 6 bites in the first hour and 4 each hour after.