Food portions estimator
Work out roughly how much food to prepare or order for an event, from your guest count and a per-person portion size.
Result
Total food needed
How to use this calculator
- Enter the number of guests.
- Set the portion size per guest — this varies by meal type and how hungry your guests are likely to be.
- Read the total food weight needed.
Assumptions
- Uses a single average portion size for all guests — adjust for a group with notably different appetites (e.g. mostly children, or a very active crowd).
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Number of guests
guests - Total number of guests expected.
- Portion size per guest
gramsPerGuest - Food weight per guest — 200g suits a light meal, 300g a standard main, 400g a hearty portion.
Methodology
Total food = guests × portion size per guest.
Worked example
50 guests, 300g portions
Inputs: guests=50, gramsPerGuest=300
Result: 15.0 kg total
Practical guidance
- Add a small buffer (5–10%) on top of this estimate for second helpings and unexpected extra guests.
Common mistakes
- Using the same portion size for every course when catering a multi-course meal — see the catering portions estimator for a course-aware approach.
FAQs
How much food do I need for 50 guests?
At a 300g portion, 15kg total — enter your own guest count and portion size above for an exact figure.