Party Food Calculator

Balanced menu is how caterers plan: guests fill one plate across everything on the table, so with several mains you need roughly 60% of each for two, 40% for three — a little over an even split, because variety makes people graze. Drinks work the same way: people pick a lane, they don't drink full amounts of soda and beer. Full portions of everything sizes every item for your whole guest list — pick it when you'd rather have leftovers than any chance of running out, or when items are served at different times.

Ice and coffee never get scaled down — you need a pound of ice per person no matter how many foods share the table.

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.