Beer Calculator — Cans & Bottles Per Guest
Estimate how many cans, bottles, or kegs of beer you need for your party based on guest numbers and event length.
How We Calculate This
This calculator estimates beer quantities using the standard drinks-per-hour formula.
The formula
Beers per drinker = 2 (first hour) + 1 per additional hour
Total beers = beer drinkers x beers per drinker
Results are shown in individual units and cases. The percentage of beer drinkers is adjustable — increase it for casual/BBQ events and decrease for formal dinners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Calculators
Party Drinks Calculator
Work out the total drinks needed for your party or event, covering beer, wine, spirits and soft drinks per guest. Free online calculator.
Wine Calculator
Calculate exactly how many bottles of wine to buy for your party based on guest numbers, event duration and drinking habits. Free online tool.
Spirits Calculator
Work out how many bottles of spirits you need for your party including measures per guest and popular mixer pairings. Free online calculator.
Punch Bowl Calculator
Calculate punch ingredients, serving quantities and bowl sizes for your party. Get the perfect ratio of juice, spirits and fruit. Free calculator.
Ice Calculator
Estimate how many bags of ice you need for party drinks, coolers and ice buckets based on your guest count and event length. Free calculator.
Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.