How much beer do I need for 200 guests?

You need 34 cases of beer for 200 guests at a birthday party. This provides 697 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a birthday party?

Plan for 3.5 servings of beer per person at a birthday party. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a case of beer?

One case of beer contains 24 servings. For 200 guests, you'll need 34 cases to provide 697 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a birthday party?

At a birthday party with 200 guests, approximately 130 guests (65%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 34 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 34 cases already includes a 15% buffer (4 extra cases). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 34 cases of beer last for 200 guests?

34 cases of beer will last approximately 4 hours for 200 guests at a birthday party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Beer for a 200 Guest Birthday Party?

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cases of beer

For a 200-guest birthday party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

697

Total servings

3.5

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

200 guests × 65% drinking rate

= 130 drinkers

At xlarge events, about 65% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

130 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 780 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 4-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.25)

= 634 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply birthday party modifier

× 1.1 (+10% for beer)

= 697 beer servings needed

Birthday Partys typically consume 10% more beer than average.

Convert to cases

697 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 29 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

29 × 1.15 = 33.3, rounded up

= 34 cases

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

* Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Beer by Guest Count

Guests	Beer Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	5 cases	87 servings
50 guests	9 cases	174 servings
75 guests	13 cases	261 servings
100 guests	17 cases	349 servings
150 guests	26 cases	523 servings
200 guests (you)	34 cases	697 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for birthday party.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🍺

Beer

The main event

cases

Don't forget these

Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

408 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

17 coolers
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Pro Tips for Your Birthday Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Milestone birthdays (21st, 30th, 40th, 50th) consume 25% more than regular birthdays.

⏰

Birthday parties have 3x more shots than any other event type - stock shooters.

🎯

Consumption drops 60% during cake and presents - factor in 30-45 min of low drinking.

🧊

Know your crowd's age - 21-30 year olds drink 30% more beer, 50+ drink 35% more wine.

✨

Consider a signature 'birthday cocktail' to make the guest of honor feel special.

🛒 Buying Guide

Birthday parties vary wildly by age group. For 21-35, stock up on beer and mixers for cocktails. For 40+, increase your wine selection. Always have extra for milestone birthdays - people celebrate harder at 30, 40, and 50.

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