How much ice per person at a party?

Plan for roughly 0.5–1.5kg of ice per guest depending on whether you are also chilling bottles and cans in ice bins. As a rule of thumb, allow about 0.5kg per guest for drinks alone and around 1kg per guest when ice is also used to keep bottles cold (about half a 2kg bag each). For a typical 4-hour indoor party with bottle chilling this works out near 1.1kg per guest, and an outdoor event in hot weather can reach 1.5–1.7kg per guest, since ice melts much faster in the heat.

How do I keep ice from melting too fast?

Store ice in cool boxes or insulated containers. Do not open the lid unnecessarily. Pre-chill drinks in the fridge so the ice does not have to work as hard. Buy ice as close to the event as possible.

Where can I buy party ice in the UK?

Large bags of ice are available from supermarkets (usually 2kg bags), petrol stations, off-licences, and catering suppliers. For large events, consider ordering from a dedicated ice delivery service which sells 10kg or 20kg bags.

Should I make my own ice?

A home freezer produces about 1-2kg of ice per day, which is not enough for a party. It is more practical to buy bags of ice. If you do make ice, start at least a week before and store in freezer bags.

Ice Calculator — How Much Ice for a Party

Estimate how much ice you need for drinks and cooling bottles at your party or event.

Number of Guests

Total number of guests expected at the event

Event Duration

How long the event will last (longer events need more ice)

Event SettingWarmer, outdoor conditions melt ice faster, so more is allowed per guest each hour (0.15 indoor · 0.2 mild outdoor · 0.3 hot).

Price per 2kg Bag (optional)

Typical UK supermarket price for a 2kg bag is around £1.50–£2.50. Leave blank to skip the cost estimate.

Include ice for cooling bins

Extra ice for chilling bottles and cans

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates ice requirements based on guest numbers, event duration, and whether you are indoors or outdoors.

The formula

Drink ice = guests × hours × rate per hour

The rate varies: 0.15kg/guest/hour indoors, 0.2kg for mild outdoor, and 0.3kg for hot weather. Using a per-hour rate captures the "maintenance" ice that melts and is replenished over a long event, rather than just an opening load. If you are using ice to chill bottles in bins, an additional 0.5kg per guest is added (about a quarter of a 2kg bag each).

These per-hour rates are a planning heuristic chosen so the totals land inside the ranges quoted by UK and US ice suppliers and event guides — roughly 0.5kg per guest for drinks alone, around 1kg per guest when ice is also chilling bottles, and up to double that in hot weather. Across 2–8 hour events the calculator produces about 0.6–1.7kg per guest. Bags are rounded up to whole 2kg supermarket bags, and it is sensible to keep a small reserve in case the day is warmer or busier than planned.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.