BBQ Meat Calculator
Grill the right amount — never run short or drown in leftovers. Estimate how much meat a barbecue needs from your guest count, appetites, and how substantial the sides are.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the number of adults and children.
- Set the appetite of your crowd and how substantial the sides are.
- Buy the total raw weight, spread across a couple of meat types.
Formula used
A baseline of ~300 g raw meat per adult, adjusted up for hearty crowds or few sides, and down for light eaters or plenty of sides. Children are counted at about half an adult portion. Remember meat shrinks ~20–25% when cooked.
Example calculation
12 adults + 4 kids, average appetite, moderate sides: 12 × 300 g + 4 × 150 g = ~4.2 kg raw.
Meat-focused with few sides bumps it to ~5 kg; lots of sides trims it toward 3.4 kg.
Grilling the right amount
Barbecue portioning goes wrong in both directions — running out mid-cookout with hungry guests, or grilling a mountain nobody finishes. The reliable anchor is around 300 grams of raw meat per adult, then adjusting for two big factors: how meat-focused the meal is (a spread heavy on sides, bread and salads needs less meat, while a meat-centric cookout needs more) and the appetite of your particular crowd.
Two practical details matter. Meat loses roughly a quarter of its weight to cooking, so the raw amount you buy is more than the cooked amount served — the guideline already accounts for a satisfying portion. And spreading the total across two or three types (burgers, sausages, chicken, say) pleases more palates and lets you buy a bit extra of the crowd favourites without over-committing to one thing. As with all catering, lean slightly over — cold cuts and leftover grilled meat are welcome the next day.
Why use this calculator?
- Right-size the meat order for any barbecue.
- Adjusts for appetite, sides and adults vs children.
- Suggests a split across meat types and matching buns.
Frequently asked questions
How much meat per person for a BBQ?
About 300 g of raw meat per adult as a baseline — more (up to ~375 g) for hearty eaters or a meat-focused spread, less (~240 g) with plenty of sides. Children need roughly half an adult portion.
Does meat weight change when cooked?
Yes — meat loses roughly 20–25% of its weight during cooking as fat renders and moisture evaporates. Buy by raw weight; the per-person guideline already accounts for a satisfying cooked portion.
Should I buy one type of meat or several?
Several is usually better — spreading the total across burgers, sausages and chicken suits more tastes and lets you stock a bit extra of the popular items. Always include a vegetarian option for non-meat-eaters too.