Party food calculator
Canapé counts, buffet grams and barbecue weights per person, from the planning numbers a caterer actually uses.
Published 31 August 2026 · Updated 31 August 2026
| Protein (220 g/person) | 6.6 kg |
| Warm sides (180 g/person) | 5.4 kg |
| Salads (100 g/person) | 3.0 kg |
| Bread (60 g/person) | 1.8 kg |
| Dessert (110 g/person) | 3.3 kg |
Caterer's planning weights, slightly generous by design: leftovers are forgiven, empty trays are remembered. Add 10% for guest counts you are not sure of.
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How caterers actually count party food
Quantity planning is arithmetic, not intuition: grams per person by category, adjusted for whether the event replaces a meal, runs long, or happens outdoors where appetites grow. The calculator uses the same planning weights we use for real events, deliberately a touch generous, because the cost of 10% extra food is trivial next to the cost of an empty table at 9pm.
The one distinction that changes every number: is this the meal, or is there dinner later? Answer that honestly and the rest is multiplication.
When the counting stops being your job
Every format this tool estimates is something we cater with service included: canapé receptions, buffets and full barbecue fine-dining at homes and villas across Portugal. The per-guest price carries the shopping, the kitchen, the service and the cleanup, and the quantities stop being your problem at the moment of booking.
Party food quantities, questions
How much food do I need for a party of 30?
For a buffet replacing dinner: about 20 kg total, roughly 220 g of protein, 180 g of warm sides, 100 g of salads, 60 g of bread and 110 g of dessert per person. For a canapé-only evening, 12 to 14 pieces plus 2 substantial items per guest.
How much meat per person for a barbecue?
420 g raw weight per adult when the barbecue is the meal, 300 g when it runs alongside other food. Raw weight loses 25 to 30% in cooking, which is why butcher-counter math understates what the grill needs.
How many grams of food per person at a buffet?
650 to 700 g total per person when the buffet replaces a meal: 220 g protein, 180 g warm sides, 100 g salads, 60 g bread, 110 g dessert. Halve the protein and sides for a snack-tier spread.
Should I order extra food for a party?
Add 10% over confirmed guests. Under-catering is the only failure guests remember; a 10% buffer covers seconds, uncounted plus-ones and the friend who skipped lunch.
What does catered party food cost in Portugal?
With service included in 2026: canapé receptions run €45 to €90 per guest, buffets €65 to €100 and barbecue formats €55 to €90. Self-catering costs a third of that in ingredients and all of your day in labour.