How many plates per person at a party?

For a buffet, allow at least 1 dinner plate per person, and order around 1.5 plates per guest if people are likely to take a fresh plate when returning for seconds. For a 3-course meal, you need 3 plates per person (starter, main, dessert), plus an optional bread plate. Always add 10% spares for breakages and late arrivals; if hiring, most companies recommend ordering 10-15% extra.

What size plates do I need?

Dinner plates: 27-28cm for mains. Side plates: 20-22cm for starters and bread. Dessert plates: 20-23cm. For buffets, 25cm plates work well as they are easier to carry. For canapes-only events, side plates are sufficient.

Should I hire or buy plates?

For 20+ guests, hiring is usually cheaper than buying. Plate hire costs £0.30-£0.80 per plate. Buying basic white plates costs £1-£3 each. Disposable plates cost £0.10-£0.50 each. Hiring includes washing and collection which saves significant effort.

How many spare plates should I have?

Keep 10% extra for breakages and unexpected guests. For children's parties, keep 15% extra as accidents are more common. If using china, spares are essential. For disposable plates, buy an extra pack as they are cheap insurance.

PartyCalcs

Plate Calculator — Plates Per Course

Calculate how many plates you need for each course of your event.

Number of Guests

Total number of people attending

Meal TypePlates are counted per course — buffet 1/guest (order ~1.5 if guests take a fresh plate for seconds), 3-course = 3/guest

Spare Percentage

Extra plates for breakages and late arrivals — 10-15% is typical for hire

Cost per Plate (hire/buy)

Price per plate — UK hire is around £0.30-£0.80, disposables £0.10-£0.50

How We Calculate This

This calculator estimates plate quantities by course type.

Plates by meal type

Buffet: 1 dinner plate per guest (a minimum — order ~1.5 per guest if guests take a fresh plate for seconds)
2-course: 1 dinner + 1 dessert per guest
3-course: 1 starter + 1 dinner + 1 dessert per guest
Canapes: 1 side plate per guest

Set Bread Plates per Guest to 1 under Advanced options to add a small bread/butter plate per cover. All quantities include your chosen spare percentage.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

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