Ice quantity estimator
Work out how much ice to order for an event, from your guest count and expected ice use per person.
Result
Total ice needed
How to use this calculator
- Enter the number of guests.
- Set the ice allowance per guest — this depends on the weather and how many drinks need chilling.
- Read the total ice needed.
Assumptions
- A rough per-guest allowance — actual ice use depends heavily on weather, event length and how many drinks are being chilled or served over ice.
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Number of guests
guests - Total number of guests expected.
- Ice per guest
kgPerGuest - Ice per guest — 0.3kg suits a short indoor event with few cold drinks, 0.5–1kg suits a longer outdoor event or one with lots of chilled drinks.
Methodology
Total ice = guests × ice allowance per guest.
Worked example
60 guests, 0.5kg each
Inputs: guests=60, kgPerGuest=0.5
Result: 30.0 kg total
Practical guidance
- For a hot outdoor event or one with a lot of cocktails/cold drinks, use a higher per-guest allowance (0.75–1kg).
Common mistakes
- Underestimating ice needs for a long outdoor event in hot weather, where ice melts and gets used up much faster than indoors.
FAQs
How much ice do I need for a party of 60?
At 0.5kg per guest, 30kg total — increase this for a hot outdoor event.