# Buffet Food Quantity Calculator

> 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.

Category: Food & hospitality · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/buffet-food-quantity-calculator

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.

## Inputs
- Guests (default 150)
- Total food per guest (all dishes) (unit g; default 450)
- Number of dishes (default 5)
- Extra allowance (unit %; default 10; optional)

## Results
- Total food to prepare
- Average per dish
- Per guest per dish

## Formula

```
Total kg = Guests × Food per guest g × (1 + Allowance% ÷ 100) ÷ 1000;  Per dish = Total ÷ Dishes
```

Where:
- 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
1. Total = 150 × 450 g × 1.10 = 74,250 g = 74.25 kg.
2. Per dish = 74.25 ÷ 5 = 14.85 kg.
3. 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.

## 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.

## Related calculators
- [Catering Portion Quantity Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/catering-portion-quantity-calculator)
- [Catering Budget Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/catering-budget-calculator)
- [Recipe Scaling Calculator](https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/recipe-scaling-calculator)

Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/buffet-food-quantity-calculator