How to use this calculator
- Enter or choose guests.
- Enter or choose total food per guest (all dishes).
- Enter or choose number of dishes.
- Enter or choose extra allowance.
- The total food to prepare updates as you type. Use Copy result or Share to keep it.
Method
Total kg = Guests × Food per guest g × (1 + Allowance% ÷ 100) ÷ 1000; Per dish = Total ÷ Dishes
- 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
- 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.
For 150 guests at 450 g each across 5 dishes, prepare about 74.25 kg in total, or 14.85 kg of each dish.
What the result means
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 and limits
- Guests eat the same total amount whatever the number of dishes.
- Weights are served (cooked) weights.
- Not every dish is equally popular; adjust per-dish amounts from experience.
Questions
How do I get raw quantities?
Take the per-dish cooked weight into the catering portion calculator with that dish’s cooking yield.