You enter the guest count, event duration in hours, and choose an event type (dinner, cocktail, BBQ, or buffet). Each event type has per-person rates for meat, sides, appetizers, dessert, and drinks drawn from common hosting guidelines. The tool multiplies each rate by the guest count, and for drinks, also by the event duration. The rates vary by event style — BBQs budget more meat, cocktail parties budget more appetizers and drinks.
Yes. These are baseline estimates. For events with lots of heavy eaters (think game-day parties or outdoor BBQs), add 10–20% more meat and sides. For lighter occasions or older crowds, you can scale back slightly.
Reduce the meat amount proportionally and add an equal weight of hearty vegetarian mains (grilled portobello, bean dishes, etc.). A common rule of thumb is to plan one substantial vegetarian option for every 10–15 guests even if no one specifically requests it.
No — the number includes all beverages. A typical split is about 60% alcoholic and 40% non-alcoholic (water, soda, juice). Adjust based on your crowd and the time of day.
Drink consumption tends to slow after the first 2–3 hours, so the linear scaling may overestimate for very long events. For all-day gatherings, consider capping the drink estimate at around 5–6 hours' worth and adding extra snacks instead.
Estimate only. Results reflect your inputs and standard formulas. Double-check important decisions independently.