Party Food Calculator

Party food quantities are one of the most common sources of anxiety for hosts — and one of the most common causes of waste when overcalculated. The key variable is the party type: canapé quantities per person are measured in pieces per hour, buffet quantities in total grams of food per person, and sit-down dinners in individual course portions.

For canapé and nibbles parties, the standard is 6 pieces per person per hour. A 2-hour pre-dinner drinks party needs 12 pieces per person; a standalone canapé evening running 3 hours needs 18–20 pieces. This sounds generous but accounts for the fact that people graze continuously. Supplement with crisps, nuts, and dips (50g per person) which provide bulk without the preparation effort.

For buffets, the total food quantity is approximately 300g of savoury food per person, split across protein (40%), salads and sides (40%), and bread/carbs (20%). With a wider variety of dishes, people eat less of each — so for a buffet with 8+ dishes, you can reduce to 250g total. The more choices, the smaller each dish needs to be.

Drinks planning is often the most expensive part of a party. The standard assumption is 2–3 drinks per person per hour, and one bottle of wine serves 5–6 glasses. It is almost always better to have too much than too little — leftover wine keeps, canned drinks can be returned to the fridge, and spirits last indefinitely. The embarrassment of running out of drinks mid-party far outweighs the minor cost of buying slightly too many bottles.