How much meat per person for a BBQ?

For a single main, UK caterers allow about 180-220g of raw boneless meat per adult; for a generous buffet-style spread with several meats, allow ~225-340g (½-¾ lb) total. The calculator default of 2 burgers + 2 sausages + 1 chicken piece is a hearty/big-eaters spread (~640g raw per adult) — lower the per-adult figures to 1-2 burgers and 1-2 sausages for a standard ~300-400g spread. Children eat about half as much, and it is wise to allow 10% extra.

How many burgers and sausages per person?

For a standard BBQ, plan 1-2 burgers and 1-2 sausages per adult. If you are also serving chicken or ribs, stay at the lower end. Children typically eat 1 burger or 1-2 sausages. A quarter-pounder patty is 113g (4oz); the 150g default weight here represents a thicker butcher or homemade burger, so set Burger Weight to 113g in Advanced Options if you are buying standard quarter-pounders.

What sides do I need for a BBQ?

Essential sides: coleslaw (50g per person), salad, bread rolls, and corn on the cob. Popular extras: potato salad, rice salad, halloumi, hummus and pitta. Allow 200-250g of sides per adult. Pre-make salads and buy coleslaw in large tubs for easy prep.

How much charcoal do I need?

For a standard kettle BBQ, 2-3kg of charcoal lasts about 1.5-2 hours of cooking. For a large party (20+ guests), buy 5-10kg. Allow 30 minutes for coals to reach cooking temperature. Lumpwood charcoal lights faster; briquettes burn longer and more evenly.

Summer BBQ Meat Calculator

Plan a summer barbecue with the right quantities of burgers, sausages and chicken.

Adults

Number of adult guests

Children

Number of children attending

Burgers per Adult

1-2 is a standard spread; 2 alongside sausages and chicken is hearty

Sausages per Adult

1-2 per adult; lower the count if you are also serving chicken

Chicken Pieces per Adult

Drumsticks, thighs or wings — 1 per adult is typical

Meat Cost per kg

Average price you pay per kg of BBQ meat

Buns per Pack

Burger or hot-dog buns in each pack you buy

Bun Pack Cost

Price per pack of buns

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates BBQ meat quantities based on guest numbers and portion sizes.

Formula

Total items = (adults x per adult) + (children x per adult x 0.5)
Meat weight = burgers × burger weight + sausages × sausage weight + chicken × chicken weight (defaults 150g, 70g, 200g — adjust in Advanced Options)
Bun packs = (burgers + sausages) / buns per pack
Children eat approximately 50% 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.