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How Much Champagne for a 40 Guest Graduation Party?

🥂
37
bottles of champagne

For a 40-guest graduation party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included
190
Total servings
4.8
Per person
+5
Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

1

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate
= 30 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

2

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours
= 180 base drinks

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

3

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.25)
= 146 adjusted drinks

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

4

Apply graduation party modifier

× 1.3 (+30% for champagne)
= 190 champagne servings needed

Graduation Partys typically consume 30% more champagne than average.

5

Convert to bottles

190 servings ÷ 6 servings per bottle
= 31.7 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of champagne provides 6 servings.

6

Add 15% buffer & round up

31.7 × 1.15 = 36.5, rounded up
= 37 bottles

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: Champagne by Guest Count

Guests Champagne Needed Total Servings
25 guests 24 bottles 119 servings
50 guests 47 bottles 238 servings
75 guests 70 bottles 356 servings
100 guests 93 bottles 475 servings
150 guests 139 bottles 713 servings
200 guests 185 bottles 950 servings

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

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🥂
Champagne
The main event
37
bottles

Don't forget these

  • Champagne flutes (1.5 per drinker)
    45 glasses
    Buy
  • Ice buckets (Keep bottles chilled)
    10 buckets
    Buy

Pro Tips for Your Graduation Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Set up a visible '21+ only' bar area and a killer mocktail station so younger guests feel included.

Parents of graduates drink about 30% less than the graduate's friends - plan your ratios accordingly.

🎯

Keep champagne cold but corked until group photo time - pop bottles for the shot!

🧊

Outdoor graduations in summer need extra cold drinks and 2x the ice you think you need.

Mix of generations means variety is key - have options for every age group.

🛒 Buying Guide

Graduation parties typically skew toward beer and lighter drinks. Stock up on popular light beers and have a good selection of non-alcoholic options since many guests will be under 21. Sparkling cider is a great champagne alternative for toasts that includes everyone.

🎉

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