Total Food
58.4 lbs
Meat
17.2 lbs
Drinks
111
Total Food Needed
58.4
pounds (26 kg)
Meat/Protein
17.2 lbs
Sides
20.6 lbs
Salad
10.3 lbs
Dessert
10.3 lbs
111 drinks
Includes water, soft drinks, and beverages
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Inputs
Result
Per adult: 5 oz meat + 6 oz sides + 3 oz salad + 3 oz dessert = 17 oz. 50 guests × 17 oz × 1.10 buffer = 935 oz = 58.4 lbs. Drinks: 50 × 2 × 1.10 = 110.
Inputs
Result
95 adults + 5 kids at 0.5x. Effective guests = 97.5. Per person: 8+6+2+2 = 18 oz. Duration factor 1.2. With 10% buffer: 97.5 × 18 × 1.2 × 1.1 / 16 = 147.3 lbs.
Plan 1–1.25 pounds of total food per adult for a seated dinner: 6 oz meat, 5 oz sides, 3 oz salad, and 3 oz dessert. Buffets need 10–15% more since guests serve themselves. Children eat about half the adult portion.
| Category | Cocktail | Seated Dinner | Buffet | BBQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meat/Protein | 4 oz | 6 oz | 5 oz | 8 oz |
| Sides | 3 oz | 5 oz | 6 oz | 6 oz |
| Salad | 2 oz | 3 oz | 3 oz | 2 oz |
| Dessert | 2 oz | 3 oz | 3 oz | 2 oz |
Plan 2–3 drinks per person for a 2–4 hour event. For longer events, add 1 drink per hour. Cocktail parties and BBQs average 3 drinks per guest. Always have water available in addition to other beverages.
Add a 10–15% buffer above your per-person estimates. This covers seconds, varied appetites, and ensures you never run out. Better to have 10% leftover than to run short. Some caterers recommend 5% buffer for plated events.
Children under 10 typically eat 50% of adult portions. Teens eat full adult portions. For mixed-age events, count children as half a guest for food but a full guest for drinks and seating.
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Last Updated: Mar 19, 2026
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