Dinner Party Portions Calculator
Plan a multi-course dinner party: how much protein, appetizers, sides, bread and wine to buy for your guest count.
How it works
main (oz raw) = guests × per-person oz × appetite × course-factor · wine bottles = ⌈guests × 2.5 ÷ 5⌉
Portion planning is really two numbers: how much of the star protein each person eats, and how many other things are competing for stomach space. A four-course tasting menu needs a smaller main than a two-course meal because the earlier courses fill people up. Raw weights are shown because that is what you buy — most cuts lose 20–30% to trimming and cooking.
Worked example
Eight guests, a beef main, three courses, average appetite: 8 oz × 8 people = 64 oz raw, about 4 lb of beef. Add ~40 appetizer pieces, 4 lb of sides across two dishes, 12 rolls, and 4 bottles of wine (roughly two and a half glasses each).
Frequently asked questions
How much wine per person?
Budget about half a bottle per adult for a dinner that runs a few hours — roughly two to three glasses. A standard 750 ml bottle pours about five glasses, so divide total glasses by five and round up.
Do I really need appetizers if there is a starter course?
If a plated starter is part of the meal you can skip standalone appetizers, or offer just one or two nibbles with drinks. The five-pieces-per-person figure here assumes a cocktail hour before people sit down.
Why buy raw weight instead of cooked?
You shop by raw weight but eat cooked weight, and most proteins shrink 20–30%. The main figure is already the raw amount to purchase, so no need to gross it up further.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.