How much beer do I need for 30 guests?

You need 7 cases of beer for 30 guests at a birthday party. This provides 129 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a birthday party?

Plan for 4.3 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 30 guests, you'll need 7 cases to provide 129 total servings.

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

At a birthday party with 30 guests, approximately 24 guests (80%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 7 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 7 cases already includes a 15% buffer (1 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 7 cases of beer last for 30 guests?

7 cases of beer will last approximately 4 hours for 30 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 30 Guest Birthday Party?

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cases of beer

For a 30-guest birthday party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

129

Total servings

4.3

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

30 guests × 80% drinking rate

= 24 drinkers

At small events, about 80% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

24 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 144 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)

= 117 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)

= 129 beer servings needed

Birthday Partys typically consume 10% more beer than average.

Convert to cases

129 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 5.4 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

5.4 × 1.15 = 6.2, rounded up

= 7 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	6 cases	108 servings
50 guests	12 cases	215 servings
75 guests	18 cases	323 servings
100 guests	24 cases	430 servings
150 guests	35 cases	645 servings
200 guests	47 cases	860 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!)

84 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

4 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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