How much wine do I need for 250 guests?

You need 128 bottles of wine for 250 guests at a graduation party. This provides 555 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much wine per person for a graduation party?

Plan for 2.2 servings of wine per person at a graduation 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 bottle of wine?

One bottle of wine contains 5 servings. For 250 guests, you'll need 128 bottles to provide 555 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink wine at a graduation party?

At a graduation party with 250 guests, approximately 163 guests (65%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 128 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra wine as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 128 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (17 extra bottles). 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 128 bottles of wine last for 250 guests?

128 bottles of wine will last approximately 4 hours for 250 guests at a graduation party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Wine for a 250 Guest Graduation Party?

🍷

128

bottles of wine

For a 250-guest graduation party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

555

Total servings

2.2

Per person

+17

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

250 guests × 65% drinking rate

= 163 drinkers

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

Calculate base consumption

163 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 978 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)

= 795 adjusted drinks

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

Apply graduation party modifier

× 0.7 (-30% for wine)

= 555 wine servings needed

Graduation Partys typically consume 30% less wine than average.

Convert to bottles

555 servings ÷ 5 servings per bottle

= 111 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of wine provides 5 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

111 × 1.15 = 127.6, rounded up

= 128 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: Wine by Guest Count

Guests	Wine Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	13 bottles	56 servings
50 guests	26 bottles	111 servings
75 guests	39 bottles	167 servings
100 guests	52 bottles	222 servings
150 guests	77 bottles	333 servings
200 guests	103 bottles	444 servings

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

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🍷

Wine

The main event

128

bottles

Don't forget these

Wine opener/corkscrew (Have a backup!)

2 pieces
Buy
Wine glasses (or plastic) (2 per drinker for variety)

326 glasses
Buy

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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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