How much food for a party?

Plan 1 to 1.5 pounds of food per guest. Appetizers are 4 to 7 bites each, sides 4 to 6 ounces. Enter your guests and the calculator splits it up.

Free, no sign-up · Updated November 4, 2026

Guests invited

Type of party

Open houseEveryone comes

MainParty length (hours)

Plan for

—guests

Main
Sliders, 1½–2 oz each (raw meat)	— lb
Sandwiches, 3–4 oz each (raw meat)	— lb
Tacos, 2–3 each (ground meat)	— lb
Meatballs, 2–3 each	— lb
Sides
Each side dish: baked beans, potato salad, coleslaw	— lb
Appetizers
Bite-sized appetizers	— pieces
Veggie tray	— lb
Fresh fruit	— lb
Dessert
Cake	— slices
Cookies or bars	— pieces
Drinks
Bottled water	— bottles
Soda	— cans or bottles
Punch	— gal

Rule of thumb, all food together: —–—lb

Where the amounts come from

Iowa State University Extension publishes a chart for a buffet-style graduation party of 50 guests. This calculator divides each line by 50, so it works for any crowd. Its general rule is 1 to 1.5 pounds of food per guest.

Ranges run from low to high, as the source gives them.

How it is calculated

Per guest = Iowa State's amount for 50 guests ÷ 50.
Open house: plan for 60% of the people you invite, rounded up.
Drinks: 2 water and 2 soda per guest for each hour.

Worked example

40 invited to an open house: plan for 24 guests. Sliders: 4.8 to 6 pounds of raw meat. Sides: 6 to 9 pounds each. Appetizers: 96 to 168 bites.

Sources

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, Graduation Party Tips (AnswerLine)
Chart for 50 guests, 1 to 1.5 lb of food per guest, 60% for an open house. It was written for graduation parties: buffet food and drinks all day. Amounts for a plated dinner or a very long party may differ.

Numbers checked November 4, 2026.

Questions

How much food do I need per person?

Iowa State University Extension says to plan 1 to 1.5 pounds of food per guest.

How many appetizers per person?

4 to 7 bite-sized pieces per guest.

How much of each side?

4 to 6 ounces of each side per person.

How many guests will really come to an open house?

The source says to plan for about 60% of the guests invited, because open house guests come and go and may be at other parties.

How many drinks per person?

2 bottles of water and 2 cans of soda per guest for each hour. Punch is 6 ounces per guest.

Is this for any kind of party?

The amounts come from a buffet-style party chart. They fit a casual meal for a crowd. For a plated dinner, use the number of guests who confirmed, and adjust for the course.