Free tool

Catering Calculator: Food and Drink per Guest

Work out how much food and drink your event needs, per guest and per course, for cocktails, buffets or seated dinners.

Vegans, coeliacs, allergies: about 10 people

Total catering estimate

€7,280
  • Service type
    Buffet
  • Food needed
    56 kg
  • Drinks needed
    80 litres
  • Estimated plates
    250 pcs
  • Estimated cutlery
    300 sets
  • People with special diets
    10 people
  • Estimated base cost
    €7,200
  • Special diet surcharge
    €80

How it works

Enter the number of guests, the type of service (cocktail, buffet, seated dinner) and how long the event lasts to get a detailed estimate of the food and drink you need. The calculator uses standard professional catering portions to cut waste while making sure nobody goes hungry.

Frequently asked questions

How many grams of food per person for a buffet?

For a full buffet, allow roughly 350-450 g of solid food per person. For a drinks reception, about 150-200 g of finger food. Quantities vary with the time of day and the length of the event.

How much food should I order for 50 people?

For a 50-person buffet you need roughly 17-22 kg of food in total. The calculator gives you a detailed breakdown by category: starters, first courses, main courses, sides and desserts.

How do I calculate drinks for an event?

Allow about 3-4 drinks per person for the first two hours, plus 1-2 for every hour after that. A typical mix is 40% water, 30% soft drinks and 30% alcoholic drinks, adjusted to the type of event.

Keep going

Related guides and tools