Free tool
Party food & drink calculator
How much food, drinks, ice and plates to buy. Enter your headcount and how long the party runs; the shopping list updates as you type.
Shopping list for 20 guests, 3 hours
Food
- Appetizer pieces66 pieces
Mix 4 to 6 kinds
- Main dish22 servings
About 6 oz of meat or fish per adult
- Sides (3 kinds)17 lb in all
- Bread or rolls22 pieces
- Dessert33 servings
Drinks
- Wine6 bottles
750 ml, about 5 glasses each
- Beer or seltzer27 cans or bottles
- Liquor1 bottle
750 ml, about 16 mixed drinks each
- Soft drinks & juice22 cans or cups
- Water5 gallons
- Ice22 lb
Supplies
- Plates44 plates
Small and large
- Cups44 cups
- Napkins66 napkins
- Cutlery sets33 sets
Amounts include about 10% extra and are rounded up. Kids count as half a portion of food and get no alcohol.
How it works
- 01Enter adults, kids and how many hours the party lasts.
- 02Pick appetizers only, a meal, or dessert and drinks, and whether you're serving alcohol.
- 03Copy or print the shopping list. Amounts include about 10% extra.
Know your real headcount
Guesses make a shopping list too big or too small. Make a free RSVP page, share one link, and see who's coming with adults and kids counted. Your event dashboard opens this calculator with those numbers filled in.
Questions
How many appetizers per person?
About 6 pieces per adult in the first hour and 4 for each hour after, when appetizers are the whole menu. Before a meal, 3 pieces each is plenty. Kids count as half.
How many drinks per guest?
Plan 2 drinks per guest in the first hour and 1 for every hour after. When you serve alcohol, about a quarter of adults' drinks are soft drinks or water.
How much wine, beer and liquor do I need?
A 750 ml bottle of wine pours about 5 glasses and a 750 ml bottle of liquor makes about 16 mixed drinks. Pick a mix (even, mostly wine, mostly beer or cocktails) and the calculator splits the drinks.
How much ice for a party?
About 1 lb per guest for drinks, more on a hot day or if you chill bottles in a tub.
Does it add extra?
Yes, about 10%, and every amount is rounded up, so you won't run short if a few more people come.
Can it use my RSVP count?
Yes. On an RSVPlinks event, the dashboard links here with your attending adults and kids filled in.