{
    "name": "Buffet Food Quantity Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/buffet-food-quantity-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/buffet-food-quantity-calculator.md",
    "category": "Food & hospitality",
    "description": "Plan buffet quantities from the number of guests, the total food each guest eats and the number of dishes, with an extra allowance and kilograms per dish.",
    "summary": "On a buffet, guests take a little of many dishes, so start from the total plate weight per guest and spread it across the dishes on offer.",
    "also_called": [
        "Buffet planner",
        "Party food quantity calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "guests",
            "label": "Guests",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "150"
        },
        {
            "name": "per_guest_g",
            "label": "Total food per guest (all dishes)",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "450",
            "unit": "g"
        },
        {
            "name": "dishes",
            "label": "Number of dishes",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "5"
        },
        {
            "name": "buffer_pct",
            "label": "Extra allowance",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "10",
            "unit": "%",
            "optional": true
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "total_kg",
            "label": "Total food to prepare",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "per_dish_kg",
            "label": "Average per dish",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "per_guest_per_dish_g",
            "label": "Per guest per dish",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "Total kg = Guests × Food per guest g × (1 + Allowance% ÷ 100) ÷ 1000;  Per dish = Total ÷ Dishes",
        "variables": {
            "Food per guest": "total served weight one guest eats across all dishes",
            "Dishes": "number of dishes sharing that weight",
            "Allowance%": "extra over the exact amount"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "guests": "150",
            "per_guest_g": "450",
            "dishes": "5",
            "buffer_pct": "10"
        },
        "steps": [
            "Total = 150 × 450 g × 1.10 = 74,250 g = 74.25 kg.",
            "Per dish = 74.25 ÷ 5 = 14.85 kg.",
            "Each guest takes on average 450 ÷ 5 = 90 g of each dish."
        ],
        "result": "For 150 guests at 450 g each across 5 dishes, prepare about 74.25 kg in total, or 14.85 kg of each dish."
    },
    "interpretation": "The per-dish figure is an even split. In practice, shift weight towards the main protein and popular dishes and away from sides and salads, keeping the total the same.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Guests eat the same total amount whatever the number of dishes.",
        "Weights are served (cooked) weights."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Not every dish is equally popular; adjust per-dish amounts from experience."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "How do I get raw quantities?",
            "answer": "Take the per-dish cooked weight into the catering portion calculator with that dish’s cooking yield."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "Catering Portion Quantity Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/catering-portion-quantity-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Catering Budget Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/catering-budget-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Recipe Scaling Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/recipe-scaling-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}