BBQ Party Calculator
Take the guesswork out of feeding a crowd—right-size your grill menu and beverages in minutes.
Total guests
21
Event length: 4 hours
Grilling proteins
12.8 lb
28.5 grill portions (burgers/chicken/etc.)
Drinks total
9 six-packs & 5 wine bottles
Plus 7 L soft drinks
Shopping list
- 11 burger patties, 9 hotdogs
- 4.0 lb chicken (thighs, breasts, drumsticks)
- 5 vegetarian mains or hearty veggie skewers
- 6.6 lb salads, 13.7 cups starch sides, 8.2 cups veggie sides
- 53 oz chips & 8.4 cups dips
- 13 dessert servings (cookies, brownies, fruit crisp)
Hosting tips
- Keep a cooler stocked with drinks at guest height; restock when half empty.
- Finish sides ahead of time and set up a self-serve condiment station to reduce grill congestion.
- Have at least one vegetarian entrée or hearty salad per five guests.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your guest list
Adults and kids are portioned differently so you shop the right amount.
Set party length
Drink recommendations scale with hours so your coolers stay stocked.
Review shopping list
Use the summary to prep proteins, sides, snacks, and beverages. Toggle desserts if you’re serving sweets.
Formula
Protein (lb) = Grill portions × 0.45 · Drinks = Guests × drinks/hr × hours
Sides (cups) = Adults × 1.5 + Kids × 0.8
Example: 20 adults, 8 kids, 4-hour party → proteins ≈ 22 lb, beer ≈ 56 bottles, soft drinks ≈ 12 liters.
Tip: Add 10% buffer for unexpected guests or late-night snacks.
Full Description
Planning a BBQ can feel chaotic—this calculator breaks down food and drink quantities so you can focus on grilling. It converts guest counts and party duration into protein, side, beverage, and dessert recommendations, saving you from running out or wasting food.
Use the summary as your grocery checklist and prep roadmap. By estimating servings for kids separately and scaling drinks by hours, you’ll avoid empty coolers, overcrowded grills, and guests waiting for seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many buns do I need?
Buy buns equal to burger and hotdog totals plus a 10% buffer for seconds and dropped buns.
What about vegetarian or vegan guests?
Allocate one plant-based entrée per vegetarian guest. Treat it like 0.8 servings when estimating grill space.
Can I prep meats ahead?
Season and portion proteins the day before. Keep them chilled and bring to room temperature 30 minutes before grilling.
How do I keep drinks cold outside?
Use several smaller coolers with a 2:1 ice-to-drinks ratio. Refill ice every hour during hot weather.