How much to buy for the cookout
Enter adults, kids, and party length, then pick the main menu and appetite. Beer per hour is editable.
- Ground beef (1/3 lb patties)4 lb 11 oz
- Burger buns14
- Hot dogs14
- Hot dog buns14
- Side dishes (3 sides)21 cups (5.3 quarts) in all
- Beer or other alcohol48 cans (12 oz)
- Water, soda, and other drinks64 drinks (12 oz)
- Ice for the coolers16 lb
How much to buy per person
There are no official numbers. These are common rules of thumb to start from, and every serving is adjustable by the appetite menu. Meat weights are raw, before cooking.
| Item | Per adult | Per kid |
|---|---|---|
| Burgers | 1 burger (a 1/3 lb patty) | Half, rounded up |
| Hot dogs | 1 hot dog | Half, rounded up |
| Ribs, bone-in | 1 lb raw | 8 oz |
| Brisket | 1 lb raw (about 1/2 lb cooked) | 8 oz raw |
| Pulled pork (pork shoulder) | 12 oz raw, bone-in | 6 oz |
| Side dishes | 1/2 cup of each of 3 sides | Same, counted as half |
| Beer or other alcohol | 1 can an hour, for adults who drink | None |
| Water, soda, lemonade | 1 drink an hour | 1 drink an hour |
| Ice | 1 lb per person | 1 lb per person |
Worked example
A backyard cookout for 12 adults and 4 kids over 4 hours with burgers and hot dogs. Kids count as half, so the party is 12 + 2 = 14 adult servings. That means 14 burgers and 14 hot dogs, with 14 burger buns and 14 hot dog buns.
Ground beef: 14 patties × 1/3 lb = 4 lb 11 oz. Sides: 14 × 3 sides × 1/2 cup = 21 cups. Beer: 12 adults × 1 can × 4 hours = 48 cans. Other drinks: 16 people × 4 hours = 64 drinks. Ice: 16 lb.
| Main menu | 10 adults | 20 adults | 30 adults |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground beef for burgers | 3 lb 5 oz | 6 lb 11 oz | 10 lb |
| Ribs, bone-in | 10 lb | 20 lb | 30 lb |
| Brisket | 10 lb | 20 lb | 30 lb |
| Pulled pork (pork shoulder) | 7 lb 8 oz | 15 lb | 22 lb 8 oz |
For a chart by guest count and appetite, see BBQ per person.
Fourth of July, tailgates, and other adjustments
- Tailgate or an all-day game: choose Hungry. Long days and cold weather both push appetites up.
- Fourth of July and hot weather: add drinks and ice, since people drink more in the heat. Count on more than 1 lb of ice per person if the coolers sit in the sun.
- Lots of sides, like mac and cheese, corn on the cob, and potato salad: choose Light.
- Bone-in cuts such as ribs lose weight to bone and fat, so the table already counts them raw. Boneless cuts can use a smaller portion.
- Leftover meat keeps well in the fridge or freezer. When unsure, buy a little more meat and a little less beer.
To split the cost between guests, try the percentage calculator or the tip calculator split feature.
Go deeper
Frequently asked questions
How much meat per person for a BBQ?
Plan on about 1 lb raw of ribs or brisket per adult, 3/4 lb of pork shoulder, or one 1/3 lb burger. Kids eat about half.
How many burgers per person for a cookout?
One burger per adult is the usual plan, and about 1 1/4 for a hungry crowd. For 20 guests, buy 20 patties, which is 6 lb 11 oz of ground beef at 1/3 lb each.
How many hot dogs per person?
One hot dog per adult when burgers are also on the menu, and 2 if hot dogs are the main event. Kids usually eat one.
How much BBQ for 50 people?
At regular appetite, 50 adults need about 50 lb of raw ribs or brisket, 37 lb 8 oz of pork shoulder, or 50 burgers (16 lb 11 oz of ground beef).
How much beer and soda should I buy?
Plan about 1 can of beer per drinking adult per hour and 1 other drink per person per hour. For 16 people over 4 hours, that is 48 beers and 64 other drinks.
How much ice do I need for a cookout?
About 1 lb per person is a common starting point, and more on hot days. For 16 guests, buy at least 16 lb of ice.
Sources and method
Standard public-domain formulas. Every calculation is checked against independent numeric tests before it goes live.