Catering calculator
How many bites per person? How much food for 30 people? Estimate the quantities and budget for your event in seconds — then request a real quote from Elie.
Quantities, without the guesswork. Planning an event starts with quantities. Too little food and guests leave hungry; too much and the budget balloons. This calculator applies the trade's rules of thumb to give you a reliable starting point, based on your guest count, chosen format and duration.
How many bites per person? For a cocktail reception, the rule is about 8 bites per person over 2 hours, 12 over 4 hours, and 16 for a full evening where the bites replace the meal. A buffet is planned at roughly 1.5 portions per person, and lunch boxes at one box each.
How many drinks? Count one drink per person for the first hour, then 0.75 per additional hour. With a bar, add about 0.5 kg of ice per guest. For staff, plan one server per 25 guests at a cocktail or buffet, one per 15 for a plated meal, and one bartender per 50 guests.
And the budget? The estimate combines a per-person range specific to each format and, where applicable, a bar add-on. It's an indicative estimate — the real quote, tailored to your Asian fusion menu and your event, reaches you within 48 hours.
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Indicative estimate, before tax and service — the real quote reaches you within 48 h.
The rule of thumb: about 8 bites per person for a 2-hour cocktail, 12 for 4 hours, and 16 for a full evening where the cocktail replaces dinner. For a reception before a seated dinner, aim for the low end.
For 30 people it depends on the format: a buffet is planned at roughly 1.5 portions per person (~45 portions), a 4-hour cocktail reception at 12 bites each (~360 bites), and lunch boxes at one box per person (30 boxes). The calculator does the math for your exact count.
Plan about one drink per person for the first hour, then 0.75 per additional hour. For a bar, also allow roughly 0.5 kg of ice per guest. The calculator adds it all up based on your event's duration.
As a rule: one server per 25 guests for a cocktail or buffet, one server per 15 guests for a plated meal, and one bartender per 50 guests when there's a bar. Delivered lunch boxes need no staff.
No. The calculator gives an indicative estimate based on per-person ranges by format, before tax and service. The real quote, personalised to your menu and event, is sent to you within 48 hours of your request.
Yes. Enter the percentage of vegetarian guests and the number of allergies: the calculator estimates how many vegetarian portions to plan and reminds you to share the allergies. Elie then builds all of it into the menu from the design stage.