Calculate pounds of meat for your crowd
Meat quantity chart for a crowd
These totals assume adults, a main meal and raw boneless meat before adding extra portions.
| Guests | Raw boneless meat | Raw bone-in meat | Cooked BBQ meat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 people | 5 lb | 7.5 lb | 4 lb |
| 20 people | 10 lb | 15 lb | 8 lb |
| 25 people | 12.5 lb | 18.75 lb | 10 lb |
| 30 people | 15 lb | 22.5 lb | 12 lb |
| 50 people | 25 lb | 37.5 lb | 20 lb |
| 75 people | 37.5 lb | 56 lb | 30 lb |
| 100 people | 50 lb | 75 lb | 40 lb |
Planning a cookout? Add quantities for coleslaw, beans and corn with the BBQ sides calculator. For pulled pork sandwiches, the sandwich calculator covers deli meat per person. For a build-your-own taco bar, the taco bar calculator adds tortillas, cheese, lettuce and toppings on top of your meat total.
Pulled pork per person
Plan about 0.4 lb of cooked pulled pork per adult for sandwiches. For 50 adults that is roughly 20 lb of cooked pulled pork. Pork shoulder loses about 40% to 50% of its weight while cooking, so 20 lb cooked means buying around 35 to 40 lb of raw pork butt.
- Sandwiches or tacos with filling sides: drop to about 0.3 lb cooked per adult and let buns, slaw and beans carry the plate.
- Want leftovers: add 10% to 15% to the cooked weight.
- Children: count each child as roughly half an adult portion.
These are cooked-weight figures. When ordering by raw weight, ask the butcher for about twice the cooked target. Pair pulled pork with the BBQ sides calculator for slaw and beans, and size the buns with the sandwich calculator.
How the estimate works & common mistakes
Start with 1/2 lb of raw boneless meat per adult for a main meal, then adjust for buffet or seconds using the serving-style and extra sliders. Bone-in cuts and cooked-weight targets need about twice the raw weight, so order by raw pounds and let the calculator convert to packs.
Common planning mistakes
- Using cooked weight to buy - raw meat shrinks 25-50%, so plan by raw pounds and expect less cooked.
- Counting bone-in as boneless - a bone-in roast yields about half its weight as meat; use the bone-in option or buy double.
- Forgetting kids and seconds - light eaters need less, but a buffet with one meat needs the extra buffer.
More free party calculators
Meat Per Person Calculator questions
How much pulled pork per person?
Plan about 0.4 lb of cooked pulled pork per adult for sandwiches, or 0.3 lb when buns, slaw and beans are also served. For 50 adults that is roughly 20 lb cooked, which means buying 35 to 40 lb of raw pork shoulder. Add 10 to 15 percent for leftovers.
How much meat for 20 people?
For 20 adults, start with about 10 pounds of raw boneless meat, 15 pounds of raw bone-in meat, or 8 pounds of cooked pulled pork or brisket. Add 5 to 15 percent for seconds.
How much meat for 100 people?
For 100 adults, start with about 50 pounds of raw boneless meat, 75 pounds of raw bone-in meat, or 40 pounds of cooked pulled pork or brisket. Adjust up for heavy eaters.
How much meat per person should I buy?
For a main meal, start with about 1/2 pound of raw boneless meat per adult or 1/4 pound per child. Use more for bone-in cuts and less when several filling sides are served.
How many pounds of meat per person for a BBQ?
Plan about 1/2 pound of raw boneless meat per adult for a BBQ, or about 3/4 pound for bone-in meat. For cooked pulled pork or brisket, start around 0.4 pound per adult.
How much meat do I need for 50 people?
For 50 adults, start with about 25 pounds of raw boneless meat, 37.5 pounds of bone-in meat, or 20 pounds of cooked pulled pork or brisket. Add 5% to 15% for seconds.
Should I calculate meat by raw or cooked weight?
Buy raw meat by raw weight because cooking causes moisture and fat loss. If you are buying already-cooked pulled pork or brisket, use the cooked option above.
How many pounds of meat for 30 people?
For 30 adults, start with about 15 pounds of raw boneless meat, 22.5 pounds of raw bone-in meat, or 12 pounds of cooked pulled pork or brisket. Add 5 to 15 percent for seconds.
How much meat per person for tacos?
For tacos or sandwiches, plan about 1/3 pound of cooked ground meat per adult, since the meat is one of several fillings. The calculator's ground meat option starts at 0.375 lb raw per adult.
How many pounds of meat for 40 people?
For 40 adults, start with about 20 pounds of raw boneless meat, 30 pounds of raw bone-in meat, or 16 pounds of cooked pulled pork or brisket. Add 5 to 15 percent for seconds.