How much BBQ meat per person?

Plan 300-400g of raw meat per adult for a BBQ main — UK caterers typically allow around 1 burger, 1-2 sausages and a piece of chicken or a skewer each. This calculator defaults to 300g per adult and you can change it under Advanced options, where it directly scales the burger, sausage and chicken counts. Teenagers eat about 85% of an adult portion and children about 50%. A dinner BBQ adds a 15% uplift over lunch.

How much charcoal do I need?

Allow roughly 1kg of charcoal per hour to keep the grill hot, plus about 0.15kg per meat-eater per hour for the food being cooked, so fuel scales with both the length of the BBQ and the number of guests (Hillside Woodfuels: ~1kg/hour rising with group size). For example a 3-hour BBQ for 20 adults (about 17 meat-eaters at the default 15% veggie split) works out near 11kg. If using gas, expect about 0.5kg of propane per hour.

What about vegetarian guests?

The default allows for 15% vegetarian guests. Halloumi, veggie burgers, corn on the cob, and stuffed peppers are popular BBQ veggie options. Plan 2 vegetarian items per veggie guest.

How many bread rolls do I need?

One roll per burger plus one hot dog roll for every two sausages. Not everyone eats sausages in a roll. Always buy 10-15% extra as backup.

How much salad and sides per person?

Plan 2 side portions per person. This includes coleslaw, green salad, potato salad, and corn. About 80g of coleslaw and 60g of green salad per person is standard.

PartyCalcs

BBQ Quantity Calculator — Food & Fuel for Your Barbecue

Calculate exactly how much food, fuel, and supplies you need for your BBQ.

Total Guests

Total number of people you are feeding

Duration

How long the BBQ runs — drives charcoal needed

Meal TimeDinner adds a 15% uplift over lunch portions

Adults %

Share of guests who are adults (full portion)

Teens %

Share who are teenagers (0.85 of a portion)

Children %

Share who are children (0.5 of a portion)

How We Calculate This

The calculator uses your guest age mix to work out effective portions:

Adults: 1 full portion (default 300g raw meat, adjustable under Advanced options)
Teenagers: 0.85 of an adult portion
Children: 0.5 of an adult portion

The Meat per Adult figure scales the burger, sausage and chicken counts up or down. Dinner BBQs get a 15% uplift over lunch, and veggie options default to 15% of guests. Charcoal scales with both the duration and the number of meat-eaters (~1kg/hour base plus ~0.15kg per meat-eater per hour).

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Party Food Calculator

Calculate the right amount of food per guest for your party, covering mains, sides, salads and snacks. Plan catering with confidence. Free calculator.

Pizza Party Calculator

Work out how many pizzas to order for your party based on guest numbers, appetites and topping variety. Never over or under-order again. Free tool.

BBQ Calculator

Estimate how much meat, burgers, sausages, buns and sides you need for your barbecue based on guest numbers. Plan the perfect BBQ. Free calculator.

Buffet Calculator

Plan a balanced buffet spread with the right portions of hot food, cold platters and sides per guest for your event. Free online calculator.

Finger Food Calculator

Calculate how many canapes and finger food pieces to prepare per guest for your party or drinks reception. Free online planning tool.

Last updated: March 2026

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