Food
Party Food Calculator
Enter guest count and portions per person for mains, sides and desserts, plus pack sizes.
How much food for a party?
Party catering maths starts with headcount, then a portions-per-person rate for mains, sides and desserts. Multiply guests by each rate to get portion counts, then divide by how many portions sit in a pack or tray and round up so you do not under-order. Heavier snack cultures or late-night parties often need higher side rates; dessert-only celebrations can zero the mains field. Pack sizes matter as much as appetite — buying two half-empty packs still costs two packs. Cross-check drinks volume with the party drinks calculator and dessert tray counts with cupcake quantity when sweet tables are separate from savoury.
Worked example
24 guests × 1.5 mains = 36 portions; packs of 8 → 5 packs. Sides at 2 each = 48 portions; packs of 10 → 5 packs.
Limits and assumptions
Does not split dietary categories automatically. Leftover risk rises if many guests RSVP late.
Frequently asked questions
How many portions per person is normal?
Rough guides: about 1–1.5 mains, 1.5–2 sides and 1 dessert — raise sides for grazing-style parties.
Do children count as full guests?
Often count children as 0.5–0.75 of an adult, or lower the per-person rates instead of changing headcount.
What if packs are mixed flavours?
Still buy by total portions; flavour mix is a shopping preference, not a maths change.
Should I add waste?
If you fear shortages, bump per-person rates rather than inventing a separate waste field.