How Much Pulled Pork for 60 People (Raw & Cooked)
Prices checked Oct 2026, average US grocery prices. Portions follow common catering rules of thumb; safe temperatures follow USDA. How we calculate
For 60 people you need 30 lbs (14 kg) of raw pork butt (about 16.5 lbs cooked · 4 butts), about $420 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.
Raw vs Cooked Pulled Pork for 60 People
| Per person | For 60 guests | Metric | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raw bone-in pork butt to buy | 0.5 lb | 30 lbs | 14 kg |
| Cooked pulled pork | about 4.4 oz | 16.5 lbs | 7.5 kg |
| Sandwiches (4 oz each) | 1+ | about 66 | — |
| Pork butts | — | 4 × about 7.5 lbs | 3.4 kg each |
Buy by raw weight. If pulled pork is one of two meats, 0.33 lb raw per person is enough; for big eaters, use 0.75 lb.
Plan for Exactly 60 Guests
| Smoker space | 4 butts: one 18-inch smoker on both grates |
|---|---|
| Cook time | about 11 hours at 225°F (cook time depends on each butt, not on how many), plus a 1-hour rest |
| Start time | light the smoker about 12 hours before serving, so usually the night before |
| Thawing if frozen | 2 days in the fridge per butt (USDA: about 1 day per 4–5 lbs) |
| Holding pans | 4 half-size foil pans with lids for about 16 lbs of cooked meat |
| Drinks cooler | 4 × 48-quart coolers for 150 cans, plus 9 × 10-lb bags of ice |
| Serving help | 3 cooking, 2 on serving and refills |
Complete Shopping List for 60
| Item | Quantity | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pulled Pork (bone-in pork butt (shoulder), raw weight) | 30 lbs (14 kg) | $75 |
| Charcoal for a long smoke | 23 lbs (2 bags of 16 lbs) | $35 |
| Buns, one per sandwich | 66 (9 packs of 8) | $25 |
| Drinks, mixed (2.5 per person) | 150 | $165 |
| Potato salad (0.3 lb per person) | 18 lbs (8.2 kg) | $45 |
| Coleslaw (0.3 lb per person) | 18 lbs (8.2 kg) | $45 |
| Plates, napkins, cutlery, condiments | 65 plates, 130 napkins | $30 |
| Estimated total | $7.00 per guest | $420 |
Cooked yield: about 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg) of pulled pork. A pork butt loses roughly 45% of its raw weight to fat, water and bone.
Gear for This Cook
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Adjust for Your Crowd
The numbers above assume adults with pulled pork as the main dish and two sides. Scale them for your event:
| Situation | Multiplier | Pulled Pork for 60 |
|---|---|---|
| Main dish, no other meats | ×1 | 30 lbs (14 kg) |
| Served with two other meats | ×0.4 | 12 lbs (5.4 kg) |
| Big eaters or an all-day event | ×1.25 | 37.5 lbs (17 kg) |
| Self-serve buffet | ×1.2 | 36 lbs (16 kg) |
Cooking Details
Target temperature: 195–205°F, then rest 30–60 minutes before pulling
Cook time: about 1.5 hours per pound of each butt at 225°F
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?
Open Full BBQ Calculator →FAQ
How much pulled pork for 60 people?
Buy 30 lbs (14 kg) of raw bone-in pork butt for 60 people. After smoking it yields about 16.5 lbs of pulled pork, roughly 4.4 oz per person.
How many pork butts for 60 people?
4 pork butts of about 7.5 lbs each. Smaller butts cook faster and more evenly than one very large one.
What does pulled pork for 60 people cost?
The meat costs about $75 at average US grocery prices ($2.50/lb). With charcoal, drinks, two sides and supplies, budget about $420 in total, or $7.00 per guest.