Graduation Party Drink and Food Calculator
For a graduation party of 100 guests, a full bar comes to 14 bottles of wine, 9 cases of beer, 9 bottles of champagne, and 5 bottles of spirits, about 353 drinks with a 15 percent buffer built in. Beer leads at 43.5 percent, typical for a casual crowd, while champagne is the smallest share at 10.4 percent, mostly reserved for toasts. The total scales to about 101 drinks at 25 guests and 656 at 200, taking the beer count from 3 cases to 17. Graduation parties often mix generations, so a good share of guests may not be drinking at all, which is worth weighing before buying toward the higher end.
Food is sized separately, on the assumption it is the main dish rather than a side. At 100 guests, plan on 44 pizzas, 98 lbs of wings, 27 dozen tacos, 27 dozen sliders, 27 platters of appetizers, and 38 lbs of BBQ or pulled pork.
See the whole bar for a graduation party at 100 guests About 353 drinks, wine, beer, spirits and champagne together.
| Drink | 25 guests | 50 guests | 75 guests | 100 guests | 150 guests | 200 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wine | 4 bottles | 8 bottles | 11 bottles | 14 bottles | 21 bottles | 25 bottles |
| Beer | 3 cases | 5 cases | 8 cases | 9 cases | 14 cases | 17 cases |
| Champagne | 3 bottles | 5 bottles | 8 bottles | 9 bottles | 14 bottles | 17 bottles |
| Spirits | 2 bottles | 3 bottles | 4 bottles | 5 bottles | 7 bottles | 8 bottles |
Every figure is that drink's share of a full bar, with a 15 percent buffer included. Each page also shows what you would need if it were the only alcohol served.
| Food | 25 guests | 50 guests | 75 guests | 100 guests | 150 guests | 200 guests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pizza | 13 pizzas | 24 pizzas | 35 pizzas | 44 pizzas | 66 pizzas | 83 pizzas |
| Wings | 28 lbs | 52 lbs | 78 lbs | 98 lbs | 147 lbs | 184 lbs |
| Tacos | 8 dozen | 15 dozen | 22 dozen | 27 dozen | 41 dozen | 51 dozen |
| Sliders | 8 dozen | 15 dozen | 22 dozen | 27 dozen | 41 dozen | 51 dozen |
| Appetizers | 8 platters | 14 platters | 21 platters | 27 platters | 40 platters | 50 platters |
| BBQ/Pulled Pork | 11 lbs | 20 lbs | 30 lbs | 38 lbs | 57 lbs | 71 lbs |
Food figures assume that dish is the main food. Serving several dishes together lowers each one.
Planning notes
- Set up a visible '21+ only' bar area and a killer mocktail station so younger guests feel included.
- Parents of graduates usually drink less than the graduate's friends, so plan your ratios accordingly.
Food calculators
Every number here comes from the same model, explained in full on the methodology page.