How Many Burgers for 20 People?

Plan 1.5 quarter-pound burgers per person at a cookout. Some guests take one, plenty come back for a second — 1.5 is the number that leaves a small, safe surplus.

Patties shrink about 25% on the grill; quarter-pound is the raw weight. Make a few patties ahead as spares rather than opening more ground beef mid-cookout.

Adjusting for your crowd: kids eat about two-thirds of adult portions; knock 25% off any single item when several mains share the table; add 25% for teenagers and big appetites. When in doubt, round up on the cheap items (buns, chips, ice) and stay exact on the expensive ones.