Catering Food Quantity Calculator
Estimate the pounds of protein, salad, sides, and rolls needed for your catered event based on guest count and meal style.
Results
What is it?
The Catering Food Quantity Calculator provides per-item pound estimates for protein, salad, sides, and rolls based on industry standards for different meal formats — from cocktail receptions to plated dinners.
How to use
Enter guest count, select the meal style, and note the event duration. Seated dinners use 6 oz protein (0.375 lb), while buffets and BBQ use 5 oz (0.3 lb) to account for buffet grazing patterns.
Example scenario
A buffet dinner for 50 guests needs: 15 lbs protein, 10 lbs salad, 18.75 lbs sides, and 75 rolls. A seated dinner for the same group would need 18.75 lbs protein.
Pro tip
Always over-order by 10%: running out of food is far worse than having leftovers. Gather dietary restriction counts at RSVP time and adjust accordingly. Buffet-style service typically requires 20-30% more food than plated service because guests serve themselves multiple times.