Wedding alcohol calculator

The rule: about one drink per guest per hour

Allow about one drink per guest 21 and over for every hour the bar is open, then add a 10% spare (Zola and Joy, 2024; The Knot). A standard pour is 5 oz of wine, a 12 oz beer or 1.5 oz of liquor (CDC). A bottle of wine pours five glasses; a bottle of sparkling pours six toasts.

How much alcohol for 50, 100, 150 and 200 guests

How to buy it

• Cases. Wine and sparkling come in cases of 12; beer in cases of 24. Over about 165 beers, a half-barrel keg can be simpler.
• Returns. Some stores take back unopened bottles. Ask before you buy: it depends on your state and the store.
• Ice and water. About 1.5 lb of ice and a liter of water a guest, more when it's hot. Water is the thing couples forget.
• Bartender. If you bring your own, many venues ask for a licensed, insured bartender. Check first.

How to work out the alcohol for your wedding

1. 1

   Put in your guests. Enter everyone coming, then how many are under 21. They get soft drinks and an alcohol-free toast. If some adults won't drink, enter how many: one number, never who.

2. 2

   Say how long the bar is open. Five hours is typical: a cocktail hour and four hours of reception. Most guests have about one drink an hour.

3. 3

   Pick your bar and your crowd. A full bar, beer and wine, signature cocktails, or wine and sparkling. Tell us if your crowd leans to wine, beer or cocktails, and whether you can return unopened bottles.

4. 4

   Check the sums. Tap "Why this number?" on any line to see the sum and where each figure comes from. Type your own number on any line and it stays put.

5. 5

   Take the list shopping. Print it, copy it or share a link. Everything comes in bottles and cases, with ice, water, mixers and soft drinks on the same list.

Frequently asked questions

How much alcohol do we need for 100 guests?

For 100 guests, all 21 or over, at a five-hour full bar: about 500 drinks, or 550 with a 10% spare. That's 37 bottles of wine, 184 beers and 5 handles (1.75 L) of liquor, plus 20 bottles of sparkling wine for the toast. Change the hours, the crowd or the bar and the numbers move with them.

How many drinks per person at a wedding?

About one drink per guest per hour is the usual rule (Zola and Joy, 2024; The Knot). A light crowd may have three in four hours; a lively one, five. Leave out guests under 21 and guests who won't drink.

How many bottles of wine do we need?

A 750 ml bottle pours five glasses of 5 oz. At a full bar where a third of the drinks are wine, 100 guests over five hours need about 37 bottles. With beer and wine only, half and half, it's about 55.

How much champagne do we need for the toast?

One pour each, six to a bottle. For 100 guests that's 17 bottles, and we add a spare because sparkling wine is what runs out first: 20 bottles. If it's just a sip, a bottle pours eight.

How much do we need for a beer and wine bar?

For 100 guests over five hours, half wine and half beer: about 55 bottles of wine and 275 beers, with a 10% spare. A wine-loving crowd drinks about three quarters wine (Zola).

How much ice do we need?

About 1.5 lb a guest, or 2 lb on a hot day, outdoors, or if you're chilling bottles too (Reddy Ice suggests 1 to 2 lb). For 100 guests that's 15 to 20 bags of 10 lb.

Can we return unopened bottles?

Some stores take back unopened bottles; it depends on your state and the store, so ask before you buy. If you can, we add a 20% spare instead of 10%, as a spare then costs nothing.

Do we need a bartender or a license if we buy our own?

Often, yes. Many venues ask for a licensed, insured bartender when you bring your own alcohol, and the rules differ by state. Ask your venue what they need before you buy.

How much will the alcohol cost?

That depends on your store and your state, so we don't guess. Type your store's prices beside each line and we add them up for you.

Is the calculator free?

Yes. No account, no email and no adverts. A free account saves your list with your wedding and reads your guest list, so the numbers keep up as people reply.