Barbecue calculator
Find out how much meat, drinks and charcoal to buy for a barbecue, by number of guests.
Estimate for a ~4–6 h barbecue. Adjust if the group eats or drinks a lot.
How the calculation works
Per person, on average: man ~400 g of meat, woman ~300 g, child ~200 g. For drinks, count ~4 beer cans per drinking adult and ~0.5 L of soda per person.
Examples
- 10 adults (6 men, 4 women): ~2.4 kg + ~1.2 kg = 3.6 kg of meat.
- A long barbecue (all afternoon): add 15–20% to the meat.
Frequently asked questions
What if it is just snacks?
Reduce the meat by about 30–40%.
How much charcoal?
A rule of thumb: ~1 kg of charcoal per 1 kg of meat, plus extra to light and keep the fire.
How to split meat types?
A common mix: ~50% beef, ~25% sausage/chicken, ~25% sides.
How much meat per person for a barbecue?
A common rule is about 400 g for men, 300 g for women and 200 g for children. With plenty of sides you can cut roughly 10%.
How much charcoal should I buy?
About 1 kg of charcoal per kilo of meat, with a 3 kg minimum even for small gatherings.
Does bone-in meat count the same?
No. Ribs and chicken wings lose 30–40% to bone and fat, so buy about 1.5× what you would of boneless meat.
What about ice?
Around 1 kg per person on a hot day. It is the most forgotten item and the hardest to improvise.
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See all →Updated on June 18, 2026 · by Rafael Rossi · Methodology & sources