Party Food Calculator
Estimate appetizer bites, main portions, and side servings for your guests based on the type of meal you're serving.
Rule of thumb: allow about 6 appetizer bites per guest per hour when apps are the whole show, and 2–3 per hour when there is a real meal. Buffets need ~25% extra main food because people serve themselves generously, so this plans 1.25 main servings each for a buffet and one for a plated dinner, with roughly two sides per guest.
How it works
How much food you need depends less on total headcount than on what kind of event it is. A cocktail party where appetizers are the whole meal burns through far more bites than a sit-down dinner where they're just a warm-up.
For an apps-only party this plans about six bites per guest per hour. When there's a real meal, it drops appetizers to two or three per hour and adds mains and sides instead. Buffets get a 25 percent bump on the main dish because self-service portions run large.
Enter your guests, how long you'll be feeding them, and the meal style, and you get three numbers to cook or order against: total appetizer bites, main servings, and side servings.
Frequently asked questions
How many appetizers do I need per person?
For an apps-only party, plan about six bites per guest per hour. If dinner is being served, two to three per hour is plenty since the appetizers are just the opening act.
Why does a buffet need more food?
People serve themselves generously and often go back for seconds, so buffet portions run larger than plated ones. This tool adds roughly 25 percent to the main dish for a buffet to cover that.
How many sides should I make?
About two side servings per guest is the usual target for a buffet or plated meal. Spreading that across two or three different sides keeps the table interesting without a mountain of leftovers.