Beverages By Event Length Calculator
Plan how many drinks to buy based on guests and how long the event runs — soft drinks or beer and wine, plus ice and budget.
How it works
Drinks per guest = 1 + 1 per hour after the first · total = guests × per-guest · ice = guests × hours × 0.75 lb · budget = drinks × cost
A reliable planning rule is one drink per guest in the first hour and one more for each hour after that — so a four-hour event runs about four drinks per person. For beer and wine, a rough 60/40 split works, with a wine bottle pouring about five glasses. Plan roughly 3/4 pound of ice per guest per hour, since ice serves both drinks and coolers, and multiply drinks by your unit cost for a quick budget.
Worked example
For 25 guests over 4 hours: per guest = 1 + 1 × 3 = 4 drinks, so 100 total. As beer and wine that is about 60 beers and ceil(40 ÷ 5) = 8 wine bottles, plus 25 × 4 × 0.75 = 75 lb of ice.
Frequently asked questions
How many drinks per person at a party?
A common rule is one drink in the first hour and one per hour after — about four for a four-hour event. Adjust up for a celebratory crowd or down for a daytime or family gathering.
How much beer versus wine should I buy?
A 60/40 split of beer to wine suits most mixed crowds. One 750 ml wine bottle pours about five glasses, and a case of beer is 24 cans — buy a mix and keep the receipts for returnable extras.
How much ice do I need?
Plan about 3/4 to 1 pound of ice per guest per hour. It goes fast because it chills drinks in coolers as well as filling glasses, and running out mid-event is a common mistake.
Related calculators
This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.