Party Drinks Calculator
Plan the perfect beverage quantity for your next event
Drink Preferences (Must total 100%)
Estimated Requirements
Note: We recommend also providing 0 lbs of ice and roughly 0 liters of soda/mixers.
How to Use the Event Drinks Calculator
Planning the bar for a wedding, corporate event, or private party is one of the most stressful parts of hosting. Buy too little, and the party ends early; buy too much, and you're left with a massive bill and crates of leftovers. Our calculator uses industry-standard "servings per hour" logic to give you a realistic shopping list.
The Standard Formula
Most professional event planners follow the 1-Drink-Per-Hour Rule. For a standard 4-hour event, you should plan for 4 drinks per guest. However, we adjust this based on your "Thirst Level" selection:
- Light: 0.7 drinks per hour per person. Best for morning events or professional workshops.
- Average: 1 drink per hour per person. The gold standard for most weddings and mixers.
- Heavy: 1.5 drinks per hour per person. Recommended for New Year's Eve, bachelor parties, or long celebrations.
Breakdown by Beverage Type
To calculate the specific bottles needed, we use the following standard conversion sizes:
- Beer: Calculated as individual 12oz cans or bottles.
- Wine: Based on a standard 750ml bottle, which provides approximately 5 glasses (5oz pours).
- Liquor/Spirits: Based on a 750ml bottle (a "fifth"), which provides approximately 16–17 cocktails (1.5oz pours).
Example Calculation
If you have 100 guests for a 4-hour wedding with an Average thirst level and a 40/40/20 split:
- Total drinks: 100 guests × 4 hours × 1.0 = 400 drinks.
- Beer (40%): 160 units (approx. 7 cases of 24).
- Wine (40%): 160 glasses / 5 per bottle = 32 bottles.
- Spirits (20%): 80 shots / 16 per bottle = 5 bottles.
Don't Forget the Extras
A great bar requires more than just alcohol. Always ensure you have 1.5 lbs of ice per person for chilling and serving. For every bottle of liquor, aim for 3 liters of mixers (tonic, soda, ginger ale, or juices) to ensure no guest is left with a "dry" cocktail.