Alcohol Calculator

How much alcohol do you really need?

The classic hosting rule of thumb is one drink per guest per hour. A 20-person party running 4 hours works out to about 80 drinks total. From there it's just a matter of splitting that number across beer, wine, and liquor the way your crowd likes to drink, then turning servings into cans and bottles you can actually add to a shopping cart.

How the servings convert

This calculator uses standard bar-planning conversions so the numbers line up with what you buy at the store: one can of beer is one serving, a 750ml bottle of wine pours about 5 servings, and a 750ml bottle of liquor makes about 16 cocktail-sized servings. Your beer, wine, and liquor percentages decide how the total gets divided. If the three shares don't add up to 100%, we scale them so the split still makes sense.

How to use it

1. Enter your number of guests and how many hours the party will last.
2. Set the beer, wine, and liquor percentages to match your crowd (aim for a total of 100%).
3. Read the result cards for total drinks plus the exact cans and bottles to buy.
4. Round up and grab a little extra for heavy pours, spills, and late arrivals.

FAQ

How many drinks per person should I plan?

The standard estimate is one drink per guest per hour. Guests usually drink a bit more in the first hour and taper off, so the average evens out.

How many servings are in a bottle?

A 750ml wine bottle pours about 5 glasses, and a 750ml liquor bottle makes about 16 standard cocktails. Beer is counted one serving per can.

What if I only serve one type of drink?

Set that type to 100% and the others to 0%. All your drinks will convert into just cans or just bottles.

Should I buy extra?

Yes. We round bottles and cans up, but grabbing 10-20% more is smart, and most stores let you return unopened alcohol.

These figures are planning estimates, not professional advice. Always host responsibly, offer water and non-alcoholic options, and never serve minors or anyone who is impaired.