How Much Food Do I Need for a Party?

A general rule is 1 pound of total food per adult for a 2–3 hour party. Plan 6–8 oz of protein, 4–5 oz of sides, and 1–2 oz of appetizers per person. Specific amounts: pizza (3 slices/person), chicken wings (6–8/person), tacos (2–3/person), burgers (1–2/person). Add 10–15% extra for big appetites and unexpected guests.

One large pizza (8 slices) feeds about 3 adults, assuming 3 slices per person as a main dish. For a party of 10 people, order 4 large pizzas. For 20 people, order 7 pizzas. If pizza is a side rather than the main, you can reduce this by about 25–30%.

Plan for 6–8 chicken wings per person if serving as an appetizer, or 10–12 wings per person if wings are the main dish. For 20 guests with wings as the main course, you'll need 200–240 wings (about 10 pounds). Always round up to the nearest whole package.

For 50 people you'll need roughly: 17 large pizzas, 100–150 tacos, 300–400 chicken wings, 12 pounds of burger patties, or 25 pounds of pasta salad. Exact amounts vary by food type and appetite — use our food-for-50-guests calculator for a complete breakdown of all foods at once.

A standard rule is one drink per person per hour. For a 3-hour party, plan 3 drinks per guest: roughly 2 beers or 2 glasses of wine or 2 mixed drinks per person. For 20 guests at a 3-hour event, stock about 60 drinks total — around 5 cases of beer, 8 bottles of wine, or enough spirits to make 60 cocktails.

Feeding 20 people typically costs $80–$200 depending on the menu. Pizza runs $70–$120 for 7 large pizzas. A taco bar costs $60–$100 for all fixings. Burgers run $50–$80. Budget $5–$10 per person for casual food, or $12–$18 per person for a full sit-down menu with appetizers and dessert.