Party and Wedding Drink Calculator
Enter guests, duration and type of event, then split the drinks by share: the calculator estimates how many glasses, litres, bottles and cases to buy. All quantities rely on rules of thumb – a planning aid, not an exact forecast.
How it is calculated
How the calculator estimates drink quantities
Important: there is no official standard for “drinks per guest”. The calculator uses deliberately round rules of thumb that you adjust with the type of event, the shares and the buffer:
How to work out drinks for a party
- Enter the number of adults and children, then choose the length and type of event.
- Split the shares between beer, wine, sparkling wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks and water.
- Choose the beer pack size and a buffer, and add ice if you like.
- Read the shopping list in litres, bottles and crates.
- Drinks per guest: 2 in the first hour, then 1 for every further hour. For 5 hours that is 2 + 4 = 6 drinks.
- Type of event: reception × 0.75, dinner/family party × 1, party/wedding with dancing × 1.25, summer party × 1.25.
- Serving sizes: beer 330 ml, wine 150 ml, sparkling wine 100 ml, mixed drink 40 ml spirit + 160 ml mixer, soft drink and water 250 ml each.
- Ice: 0.5 kg per guest, 1.5 times that for a summer party.
The shares split the drinks between the types. If they do not add up to exactly 100 %, the calculator scales them. Children and teens only get soft drinks and water, in the ratio of your shares. Bottles and cases are always rounded up.
Example: 40 guests, 5-hour party
6 drinks × 1.25 (party) = 7.5 drinks per guest, 8.25 with a 10 % buffer. With 30 % beer: 7.5 × 40 × 0.30 × 1.1 = 99 glasses × 0.33 l = 32.7 litres – 99 bottles of 330 ml, or 5 cases of 24 (rounded up). In total about 80 litres of drinks plus 22 kg of ice.
Plenty of non-alcoholic drinks
As a reference point, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) gives about 1.41 litres a day from drinks for adults aged 25 to under 51. That is a daily value, not a party amount, but it shows water should not run short. The calculator therefore shows the non-alcoholic volume per guest (soft drinks, water and mixers). People drink more in the heat and when dancing.
Serving alcohol responsibly
For context the calculator shows the pure alcohol per adult guest if everything is shared evenly (assumed strengths: beer 5 %, wine 12 %, sparkling wine 11 %, spirits 40 % ABV; 10 ml of pure alcohol = 8 g, as in the NHS alcohol-unit definition – divide the grams by 8 for UK units). The World Health Organization points out that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free. Offer appealing alcohol-free options and make sure guests get home safely.
Planning a wedding? Get your headcount from the wedding guest list and RSVP tracker, keep costs in check with the wedding budget calculator and see the daily water intake calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many drinks per person should I plan for a party?
A common rule of thumb is 2 drinks in the first hour and 1 per hour after that. For a 5-hour event that is about 6 drinks per guest, more at a dance party. There is no official figure.
How much beer do I need for 50 guests?
For a 5-hour party with 30 % beer the calculator estimates about 37 litres without a buffer (50 × 7.5 × 0.30 × 0.33 l) – 113 bottles of 330 ml, or 5 cases of 24. With a 10 % buffer it is 41 litres, or 6 cases.
How much wine per person at a wedding?
It depends on the share: if 30 % of drinks are wine, an 8-hour wedding with dancing needs about 3.4 glasses of 150 ml per guest – roughly two-thirds of a bottle. Enter your own share.
How much ice do I need for a party?
The calculator plans 0.5 kg of ice per guest, 0.75 kg at a summer party or barbecue. Allow more for lots of mixed drinks or for chilling bottles.
Why are the shares scaled?
The calculator divides each share by the total. 60 % beer and 60 % wine become 50 % each. A note shows the original total.
How accurate is it?
It is an estimate. Age, weather, programme, food and drinking habits change the amount a lot. Add a buffer and ask your shop about returning unopened cases.
Sources and legal basis
- Deutsche Gesellschaft für Ernährung (DGE) – Referenzwerte: Wasser, Richtwerte für die Wasserzufuhr (abgerufen 27.09.2026)
- NHS – Alcohol units (accessed 27 Sep 2026)
- World Health Organization – Alcohol, fact sheet (28 June 2024)
As of:
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