how to plan the food and beverage quantities you need for a party

Perfect Party Quantities: Your Cocktail and Hors d’oeuvres Quantity Guidelines!

Whenever hosting a party, it’s inevitable you’ll belabor the types and quantities of everything! No one wants to have too much or too little of anything! Here are some great guidelines for hosting your next cocktail party.

Hors d’oeuvres - Quantities

If you are serving dinner, 6 hors d’oeuvres per person
For a true cocktail party, plan on 12 hors d’oeuvres per person

Hors d’oeuvres - Types

For 8 - 10, 3 types
For 14 - 16, 4 - 5 types
For 20 - 45, 6 types
Over 45, 8 types

Cocktails for 20 Guests

Bottles - 1 vodka, 1 whiskey, 1 gin, 1 scotch, 1 sweet vermouth, 1 dry vermouth, 2 rum (one light, one dark), 1 tequila
Beer - 24 bottles
Wine - 2 large bottles of each red and white wine

Other Supplies

20 lbs. ice
2 bottles tonic water
2 bottles ginger ale
2 bottles coke
2 bottles seltzer water
2 quarts orange juice
2 limes
2 lemons
Olives, Maraschino cherries
Cocktail sticks

Glassware

60 glasses, approximately three per person

Cocktails for Fifty Guests

Bottles - 2 vodka, 2 whiskey, 2 gin, 2 scotch, 1 sweet vermouth, 1 dry vermouth, 2 rum (1 light/1 dark), 2 tequila
Beer - 48 bottles
Wine - 4 large bottles each of white and red
50 lbs. ice

Other Supplies