How much BBQ meat per person?

This calculator defaults to a generous 3-item spread of about 600-650g raw meat per adult: 2 burgers (≈300g), 2 sausages (≈140g), and 1 chicken piece (≈200g). That suits a hearty BBQ with leftovers. If you want a leaner single-protein menu, plan ½ lb (≈225g) raw per adult instead, and drop the per-person counts in Advanced Options. Children eat about 60% of an adult portion.

How many burgers and sausages per person?

2 burgers and 2 sausages per adult is a generous UK BBQ serving. With chicken as well, you can reduce to 1-2 of each. Children usually eat 1 burger OR 1-2 sausages, not both. The defaults assume ≈150g butcher-grade burgers and ≈70g sausages; standard supermarket BBQ packs are lighter (≈113-130g burgers, ≈57g sausages), so adjust the cost per kg accordingly.

What sides do I need?

Coleslaw (80g per person, as one of several sides — bump toward 100g if it is a feature side with pulled pork), green salad (60g per person), bread rolls (1 per burger + 1 per sausage), corn on the cob (1 per person), and potato salad are BBQ essentials. Prepare sides in advance to reduce stress on the day.

How much charcoal do I need?

2-3kg of charcoal per hour of cooking for a standard kettle BBQ. For 20 guests, cook in batches over 1-2 hours, needing 4-6kg. Light coals 30 minutes before cooking. Have extra charcoal as backup.

PartyCalcs

BBQ Calculator — Meat, Sides & Buns

Estimate meat, sides, and bun quantities for a barbecue.

Adults

Total number of adult guests including vegetarians

Children

Children get about 60% of adult portions

Vegetarian Guests

Subtracted from meat portions (plan veggie alternatives separately)

Meat Cost per kg

Average £/kg across your burgers, sausages and chicken (optional, for a rough cost)

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates BBQ quantities with children at 60% of adult portions. Vegetarian guests are subtracted from the meat count (plan their alternatives separately). Buns are sized as 1 per burger plus 1 per sausage.

Per adult portions (defaults)

2 burgers (≈150g each, generous butcher-grade — supermarket quarter-pounders are ≈113g), 2 sausages (≈70g each — standard supermarket BBQ sausages are ≈57g), 1 chicken piece (≈200g)
That totals ≈600-650g raw meat per adult — a hearty 3-item spread. For a leaner menu, reduce the per-person counts in Advanced Options.
Coleslaw: 80g, Salad: 60g per person (one of several sides)
Children = 60% of adult portions

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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