BBQ Shopping List Calculator
Enter your guests and menu. You get every item rounded to the packs you actually buy, an estimated total and a list you can print or text.
| Item | Need | Buy | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat | |||
| 2.5 lb | 1 × 3 lb (+20%) | $21.00 | |
| 3 lb | 2 × 2.5 lb (+67%) | $12.50 | |
| 3 racks | 3 × rack | $30.00 | |
| 10 | 2 × 5-pack | $10.00 | |
| Bakery | |||
| 10 | 1 × 16-pack (+60%) | $5.60 | |
| 10 | 2 × 8-pack (+60%) | $5.60 | |
| Dairy | |||
| 7 | 1 × 24-pack (+243%) | $4.80 | |
| Deli | |||
| 6 lb | 2 × 3 lb | $15.00 | |
| 6 lb | 2 × 3 lb | $15.00 | |
| Pantry | |||
| 52 oz | 4 × 13 oz | $16.00 | |
| 10 oz | 1 × 32 oz (+220%) | $3.84* | |
| 5 oz | 1 × 20 oz (+300%) | $2.40* | |
| 32 oz | 2 × 18 oz | $11.25 | |
| Drinks & ice | |||
| 20 | 2 × 12-pack (+20%) | $36.00 | |
| 15 | 2 × 12-pack (+60%) | $24.00 | |
| 15 | 1 × 24-pack (+60%) | $19.20 | |
| 30 lb | 3 × 10 lb | $9.00 | |
| Supplies & fuel | |||
| 10 lb | 1 × 16 lb (+60%) | $24.00 | |
| 26 | 1 × 50-pack (+92%) | $10.00 | |
| 80 | 1 × 200-pack (+150%) | — | |
| 40 | 1 × 50-pack (+25%) | — | |
Meat, buns, sides, drinks, ice and charcoal are priced at our planning prices (Oct 2026); * marks estimates. Warehouse clubs are usually cheaper per unit, so a club list mainly changes pack sizes.
Shopping lists by party size
| Menu | 10 guests | 20 guests | 30 guests | 50 guests | 100 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed BBQ (burgers, chicken, ribs, sausages) | 10: $175 | 20: $275 | 30: $355 | 50: $613 | 100: $1,164 |
| Burgers and hot dogs | 10: $152 | 20: $243 | 30: $333 | 50: $572 | 100: $1,106 |
| Pulled pork sandwiches | 10: $169 | 20: $258 | 30: $321 | 50: $522 | 100: $962 |
Worked examples
How we calculate
- Each adult counts as one eater and each child as half. Vegetarians come off the meat count and get a veggie burger instead.
- Meat per eater is the same as our party-size guides: burgers 0.5 lb, chicken 0.6 lb bone-in, ribs 1.0 lb (half a rack), sausages 0.4 lb, raw pork butt 0.5 lb. Burgers and hot dogs: 1.2 burgers and 0.8 hot dogs per eater.
- Buns are one per patty, link or 4-oz pulled pork sandwich. Cheese is 0.7 slice per burger, ketchup 0.5 oz and mustard 0.25 oz per sandwich.
- Sides are 0.3 lb each per eater (one ear of corn). Drinks are 1 per guest plus 0.5 per hour, about 40% beer for adults. Ice is 1.5 lb per guest (2.0 lb on hot days).
- Every quantity is rounded up to whole packs. With two pack sizes we pick the mix with the least left over. The overage shows how much the rounding adds.
| Item | Supermarket pack | Club pack | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef 80/20 | 1 or 3 lb | 5.6 | quarter-pound patties, 4 per lb |
| Hot dogs | 8 ct | same as supermarket | beef franks |
| Chicken thighs and drumsticks, bone-in | 2.5 lb | same as supermarket | family packs |
| Baby back ribs | 1 ct | same as supermarket | about 2 lb per rack |
| Bratwurst or Italian links | 5 ct | 14 | about 5 links per lb |
| Pork butt, bone-in | 8 lb | 16 | one butt is about 8 lb; club packs hold two |
| Veggie burgers | 4 ct | same as supermarket | plant-based patties |
| Hamburger buns | 8 or 16 ct | 12 | |
| Hot dog buns | 8 ct | 12 | |
| American cheese slices | 24 ct | same as supermarket | BLS American cheese $4.74/lb (Sep 2026), about 24 slices per lb |
| Potato salad | 3 lb | same as supermarket | deli tubs |
| Coleslaw | 3 lb | same as supermarket | deli tubs |
| Mac & cheese | 3 lb | same as supermarket | deli trays |
| Corn on the cob | 4 ct | same as supermarket | ears |
| Potato chips | 13 oz | same as supermarket | family-size bags |
| Ketchup | 32 oz | same as supermarket | |
| Mustard | 20 oz | same as supermarket | |
| BBQ sauce | 18 oz | same as supermarket | |
| Beer | 12 ct | 30 | cans |
| Soda | 12 ct | 35 | cans |
| Bottled water | 24 ct | 40 | bottles |
| Ice | 10 lb | same as supermarket | bags |
| Charcoal briquettes | 16 lb | 40 | bags |
| Paper plates | 50 ct | 186 | |
| Napkins | 200 ct | 660 | included in supplies |
| Cups | 50 ct | 240 | included in supplies |
Pack sizes are common US sizes checked at major retailers in October 2026; prices are our planning prices. Data as of Oct 2026. Full list of sources: How we calculate.
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FAQ
How much meat per person for a BBQ?
Plan 0.5 lb of burgers, 0.6 lb of bone-in chicken, 1.0 lb of ribs or 0.4 lb of sausages per adult when it is the only main. A mixed menu averages about 0.63 lb. Children eat about half.
How many burgers and hot dogs for 50 people?
About 60 burgers and 40 hot dogs: 15 lb of ground beef, 4 × 16-pack hamburger buns and 5 × 8-pack hot dog buns.
How many buns do I need?
One per burger patty, hot dog, sausage link or pulled pork sandwich. Buns come in 8-packs at most supermarkets and 12-packs at Costco, so round up to whole packs.
How much does a BBQ for 20 people cost?
About $275 for a mixed BBQ for 20 adults at our Oct 2026 planning prices, or $13.76 per guest, including meat, buns, two sides, drinks, ice, charcoal and plates.
How many pounds of sides per person?
About 0.3 lb of each side per adult when you serve two or three sides, and one ear of corn each.
What should be on a cookout checklist?
Meat and buns, cheese and condiments, two or three sides, chips, drinks and ice, charcoal or propane, plates, napkins, cups, foil pans, a meat thermometer, tongs and trash bags.