Party Drinks Calculator

Tell us your guest count and how long the party runs, and we'll estimate how many drinks to buy — split into alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

📖 How it works & FAQ

Number of guests

Party length (hours)

% of guests drinking alcohol

How many drinks do you really need?

Running out of drinks halfway through a party is a classic host mistake — and so is buying three times too much. This calculator uses the planner's rule of thumb bartenders and caterers lean on: people drink faster early on, then settle in. Guests tend to have about two drinks in the first hour (they're thirsty, mingling and getting settled) and roughly one drink per hour after that as the evening levels off.

From there the math is simple. Multiply your guest count by that per-guest total to get the number of drinks to have on hand, then split it between alcoholic and non-alcoholic based on how many of your guests actually drink. The result is a shopping target you can take straight to the store.

Splitting alcoholic and non-alcoholic

Not everyone at a party drinks alcohol — designated drivers, pregnant guests, kids and people who simply prefer a soda. Set the "% of guests drinking alcohol" slider to match your crowd, and the calculator reserves the rest as water, soft drinks and mocktails. A common default is 60-75% for a general adult party; drop it lower for family events and raise it for a cocktail night.

How to use it

Enter your total number of guests.
Enter how many hours the party will run.
Set the percentage of guests drinking alcohol.
Read your totals instantly — they update as you type.
Round up a little when you shop; leftovers keep, a dry party doesn't.

FAQ

Does one "drink" mean a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail?: Treat a drink as one serving: a beer, a 5 oz glass of wine, or a single cocktail. A standard 750 ml wine bottle pours about 5 glasses, and a case of beer is 24 servings.
Why two drinks in the first hour?: Guests arrive thirsty and social, so consumption spikes early, then eases to roughly one per hour. This front-loaded pattern is the standard event-planning estimate.
Should I round up my order?: Yes. Add 10-15% for heavy pours, surprise guests and refills. Unopened bottles and cans store easily for next time.
Is this exact?: These are estimates, not professional advice. Your real numbers depend on your crowd, the weather and the occasion — use the result as a smart starting point.