Portions & Quantities
It depends on the cut:
- Burgers: 0.5 lbs/person (2 quarter-pound patties)
- Grilled Chicken: 0.6 lbs/person (1–2 pieces)
- Sausages: 0.4 lbs/person (2–3 links)
- BBQ Ribs: 1 lb/person (bone-in weight)
- Mixed Platter: about 0.63 lbs/person total
Including vegetarian options reduces meat needs by ~20%. See our full portion guide or use the calculator for exact quantities.
Plan for 1 drink per guest plus 1 for every 2 hours: about 2.5 drinks each for a 3-hour party, 3 for 4 hours. Add extra water on hot days.
Recommended mix: about 40% beer, the rest soda and water. Always have extra water available.
Top choices with per-person portions:
- Potato Salad: 0.3 lbs (≈ ½ cup)
- Corn on the Cob: 1 ear
- Coleslaw: 0.3 lbs
- Mac & Cheese: 0.3 lbs
Pick 2–3 sides to reduce waste and keep prep manageable. More recipes in our side dishes guide.
Cost & Budget
Typical meat costs:
- Burgers: $3.50/person
- Chicken: $1.50/person
- Pulled pork: $1.26/person
- Sausages: $2.00/person
- Ribs: $5.00/person
Add about $5–6.50 per person for drinks, two sides, charcoal, buns and supplies. Total: about $7–12 per person depending on the menu, at average US prices checked Oct 2026. The calculator gives you an exact breakdown.
Yes — up to 500 guests. For events over 50 guests, we also recommend our BBQ catering guide which covers buffet portions (about 20% higher than home BBQ), equipment needs, staffing, and food safety at scale.
You can also browse pre-calculated guides by party size for instant answers.
Sustainability
- Include vegetarian or vegan mains
- Skip lighter fluid and light charcoal with a chimney starter
- Buy drinks in large containers instead of single cans
- Serve chicken or pork more often than beef
- Use reusable plates, cups, and utensils
- Compost food scraps after the party
Read more in our eco-friendly BBQ guide.
Using the Calculator
Yes. After calculating, you can:
- Download a PDF with your full shopping list and costs
- Share on X (Twitter) or Facebook with one click
Your inputs are also auto-saved in your browser so they persist when you return.
No. All calculations run entirely in your browser. Your inputs are saved only in your device's localStorage and are never sent to any server. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Portions are common catering rules of thumb, safe cooking temperatures come from the USDA, and prices come from BLS and USDA retail price data. See How We Calculate for every number, its source and a changelog.
Still have questions? Contact us — we're happy to help.