Frequently asked questions
How much alcohol do I need for a party of 50 people?
For 50 guests over 4 hours at moderate drinking intensity, plan on approximately 3 bottles of vodka, 2 bottles of bourbon, 8 bottles of wine, and 3 cases of beer — plus proportional mixers and ice. Our calculator generates a precise, itemized list based on your specific event details and bar theme.
How many bottles of wine do I need for a party?
A standard 750ml bottle of wine contains about 5 glasses. As a rule of thumb, plan on one bottle per 2 guests for a 2-hour event, scaling up for longer events. For a 4-hour dinner party with 20 guests where wine is the primary drink, you'd want around 16 bottles. Our calculator adjusts this automatically based on your event type.
How much alcohol do I need for a wedding reception?
Wedding bar planning depends on guest count, reception length, and preference split between spirits, wine, and beer. For a 100-person wedding over 5 hours, a typical breakdown is 20–25 bottles of wine (including champagne for the toast), 8–10 cases of beer, and 12–15 bottles of spirits. Select the Wedding theme in our calculator for a fully customized list.
How much beer do I need for a party?
For a casual party where beer is the main drink, plan on 2–3 beers per guest per hour. For a 4-hour Super Bowl party with 30 guests, that's roughly 3–4 cases (72–96 cans or bottles). Our calculator presents beer quantities in cases when totals exceed 24 units, making shopping easier.
How much ice do I need for a party?
Plan on at least 1 pound of ice per guest for drinks, plus additional ice for coolers and ice buckets. For 50 guests, that's roughly 3 bags of ice (20 lbs each) for drinks plus 20 lbs extra for coolers. Our calculator includes ice quantities automatically and lets you adjust the per-guest amount in Settings.
How many bottles of liquor do I need for 100 people?
For a full bar serving 100 guests over 4 hours, a typical estimate is 6 bottles of vodka, 4 bottles of bourbon, 2 bottles of gin, 2 bottles of tequila, 16 bottles of wine, and 6 cases of beer — plus mixers, ice, and glassware. Enter 100 guests into our calculator for your complete, theme-specific shopping list.
What is a standard drink serving size?
A standard drink contains approximately 0.6 oz of pure alcohol — that's 1.5 oz of spirits (80 proof), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 12 oz of regular beer (5% ABV). Our calculator is based on 1.5 drinks per person per hour at moderate intensity, which you can adjust in the Advanced Settings.