BBQ Food for 100 Guests
A backyard BBQ for 100 guests needs about 50 lb of cooked meat, roughly 150 buns, two sides, and drinks. This calculator sizes the mains, buns, sides, and condiments for 100, estimates the cost, and gives a copyable shopping list, with cooked-versus-raw weight handled.
Your plan
Enough for a 4-hour bbq with standard appetite
Total items
14
food and drink to buy
Est. cost
$1285.27
$12.85 per guest, rough estimate
Planning for 110 guests (93 adults, 17 kids) over 4 hours, standard appetite, with a 10 percent buffer.
- 46 lb
Main protein (burgers, chicken, pulled pork)
0.5 lb per adult
- 4.1 lb
Vegetarian main (skewers, plant patties)
0.4 lb per adult
- 516 oz
Starchy side (potato salad, pasta, rice)
5 oz per adult
- 305 oz
Vegetable side or green salad
3 oz per adult
- 157 pieces
Buns or bread rolls
1.5 pieces per adult
- 235 oz
Chips and snacks
2.2 oz per adult
- 110 servings
Dessert servings
1 servings per adult
- 131 cans
Beer
1 drink per guest per hour
- 16 bottles
Wine
1 drink per guest per hour
- 4 bottles
Cocktails and spirits
1 drink per guest per hour
- 146 cans
Soft drinks and juice
1 drink per guest per hour
- 119 bottles
Water
1 drink per guest per hour
- 102 servings
Condiments and sauces
1 servings per adult
- 220 pieces
Plates, napkins, cutlery sets
2 pieces per adult
Estimate from average US grocery prices, a planning aid, not a quote. Non-USD is converted at rough parity. Set the price level in advanced options for your area, or see how we estimate cost.
Shopping list
Proteins
- Main protein (burgers, chicken, pulled pork)46 lb (46 packs)$
- Vegetarian main (skewers, plant patties)4.1 lb (5 packs)$
Sides
- Starchy side (potato salad, pasta, rice)516 oz (33 packs)$
- Vegetable side or green salad305 oz (20 packs)$
Bread
- Buns or bread rolls157 pieces (20 packs)$
Snacks
- Chips and snacks235 oz (15 packs)$
Desserts
- Dessert servings110 servings (110 packs)$
Drinks
- Beer131 cans (11 packs)$
- Wine16 bottles (16 packs)$
- Cocktails and spirits4 bottles (4 packs)$
- Soft drinks and juice146 cans (13 packs)$
- Water119 bottles (5 packs)$
Condiments
- Condiments and sauces102 servings (11 packs)$
Disposables
- Plates, napkins, cutlery sets220 pieces (5 packs)$
Tap any price to set what it costs at your store. Prices are average US estimates.
Common questions
- How much meat do I need for a BBQ of 100?
- Plan about half a pound of cooked meat per adult, so roughly 50 lb cooked for 100 guests, more for big eaters or an all-day cookout. Bone-in mains like ribs need more raw weight, which the main-dish selector accounts for.
- How many burgers and hot dogs for 100 people?
- Most adults eat two handhelds across a cookout, so plan about 150 buns for 100 with a few spares. The tool sizes buns to your main dish and adds a buffer for seconds.