How Many Hamburgers and Hot Dogs for 80 People
Prices checked Oct 2026, average US grocery prices. Portions follow common catering rules of thumb; safe temperatures follow USDA. How we calculate
For 80 people you need 40 lbs (18 kg) of ground beef (160 quarter-pound patties · 2 per person), about $776 for the whole party with drinks, sides and charcoal. Treat it like a catering job: two cooks, a holding plan for cooked food and a written timeline.
Hamburgers and Hot Dogs for 80 People
| Menu | Per person | For 80 guests | To buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burgers only, ¼-lb patties | 2 patties | 160 patties | 40 lbs beef (18 kg), 20 bun packs |
| Burgers only, â…“-lb patties | 1.5 patties | 120 patties | 40 lbs beef, 15 bun packs |
| Burgers + hot dogs | 1.2 burgers + 0.8 hot dogs | 96 burgers, 64 hot dogs | 24 lbs beef, 8 packs of 8 hot dogs |
When hot dogs are on the grill too, most guests take one of each, so you need fewer burgers. Kids lean toward hot dogs.
Plan for Exactly 80 Guests
| Grill loads | 13 loads of about 13 patties on a 22-inch kettle, 12 minutes each |
|---|---|
| Grills to serve in ~45 min | 4 kettle-size grills, or one large gas grill or griddle |
| Ground beef to buy | about 14 family packs of 3 lbs (80/20 for juicy burgers) |
| Prep | form patties the night before, stacked 10 high with parchment between them |
| Holding pans | 6 half-size foil pans with lids for about 30 lbs of cooked meat |
| Drinks cooler | 5 × 48-quart coolers for 200 cans, plus 12 × 10-lb bags of ice |
| Serving help | 3 cooking, 3 on serving and refills |
Complete Shopping List for 80
| Item | Quantity | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Burgers (quarter-pound beef patties) | 40 lbs (18 kg) | $280 |
| Charcoal | 40 lbs (3 bags of 16 lbs) | $60 |
| Buns, one per patty | 160 (20 packs of 8) | $56 |
| Drinks, mixed (2.5 per person) | 200 | $220 |
| Potato salad (0.3 lb per person) | 24 lbs (11 kg) | $60 |
| Coleslaw (0.3 lb per person) | 24 lbs (11 kg) | $60 |
| Plates, napkins, cutlery, condiments | 85 plates, 170 napkins | $40 |
| Estimated total | $9.70 per guest | $776 |
Patties: 160 quarter-pound patties, 4 per pound of ground beef.
Gear for This Cook
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Adjust for Your Crowd
The numbers above assume adults with burgers as the main dish and two sides. Scale them for your event:
| Situation | Multiplier | Burgers for 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Main dish, no other meats | ×1 | 40 lbs (18 kg) |
| Served with two other meats | ×0.4 | 16 lbs (7.3 kg) |
| Big eaters or an all-day event | ×1.25 | 50 lbs (23 kg) |
| Self-serve buffet | ×1.2 | 48 lbs (22 kg) |
Cooking Details
Target temperature: 160°F internal (USDA, ground beef)
Cook time: 3–4 minutes per side over medium-high heat
Food safety: don't leave cooked meat out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (USDA). Keep hot food above 140°F.
Want to change drinks, sides and sauces, or download a PDF shopping list?
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How many pounds of hamburger for 80 people?
Buy 40 lbs (18 kg) of ground beef for 80 people. That makes 160 quarter-pound patties, 2 per person.
How many hamburgers and hot dogs for 80 people?
Plan about 96 burgers and 64 hot dogs for 80 guests. That covers people who eat one of each plus a few seconds.
What does burgers for 80 people cost?
The meat costs about $280 at average US grocery prices ($7.00/lb). With charcoal, drinks, two sides and supplies, budget about $776 in total, or $9.70 per guest.