Ham Size Per Person Calculator
Find out how many pounds of ham to buy for a holiday dinner — bone-in versus boneless, adults and children counted separately.
How it works
Ham lb = adults × per-adult + children × ½ per-adult · per-adult = (bone-in 0.75 / boneless 0.5) × (leftovers 1.3)
A bone-in ham loses weight to the bone, so plan about 3/4 pound per adult; a boneless or spiral ham is nearly all edible meat, so 1/2 pound per adult is plenty. Bump the amount by roughly 30% if you want leftovers for sandwiches and soup. Children typically eat about half an adult portion.
Worked example
For 10 adults and 4 children on a bone-in ham with leftovers: per-adult = 0.75 × 1.3 = 0.975 lb, per-child = 0.49 lb. Total = 10 × 0.975 + 4 × 0.49 ≈ 11.7 lb, so you would buy a 12-pound ham.
Frequently asked questions
How much bone-in ham per person?
Plan on about 3/4 pound of bone-in ham per adult for the meal, or closer to 1 pound if you want leftovers. The bone accounts for the difference between this and a boneless ham.
Is boneless or bone-in more economical?
Boneless ham has less waste — about 1/2 pound per person feeds the same appetite — but bone-in ham is usually cheaper per pound and the bone makes excellent stock, so the real cost is often similar.
How much ham for sandwiches the next day?
Add roughly 30% to the meal amount. A pound of cooked ham makes about four to five generous sandwiches once sliced.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.