Answers
How much of everything to buy
One page per question, each one worked out for a real party rather than a rule of thumb. Every number says where it came from, and the ones that are our own judgement rather than a published figure say that too.
Food
- How much food for a kids birthday party?What to buy for a twelve child afternoon party, and why a two o clock start needs far less food than the guest count suggests.
- How much food for a lunchtime birthday party?A noon start runs straight through lunch, so this one is a real meal. Pizza, fruit and cake for twelve children and the parents who stay.
- How many pizzas for 20 kids?Large pizzas for twenty school age children and six parents at a lunchtime party, with the slice arithmetic shown and a source for each figure.
- How many pizzas for 15 kids?Large pizzas for fifteen school age children and five parents at a lunchtime party, with the slice count and where it comes from.
- How many pizzas for a teenage party?Teenagers eat roughly four slices each, not two. Pizza for twelve teenagers at an evening party that runs through dinner.
Cake
- What size cake for 20 people?The round tin that serves twenty at a birthday party, using party slices rather than the wedding figure that makes the same tin look twice as big.
- What size cake for 25 people?The round tin that serves twenty five at a birthday party, on party slices rather than wedding slices, with the chart it comes from.
- What size cake for 30 people?Thirty guests is near the ceiling for a single round tin. The size that covers it, and the point where cupcakes or a sheet cake win.
Drinks
- How many drinks for a kids party?Juice boxes and water for twenty children and six parents over a two hour party, including why the standard adult figure is wrong here.
- How many drinks for an outdoor summer party?Heat and an extra hour change the drinks count more than any other factor. Twenty children outdoors above eighty degrees, with the uplift shown.
Table
Favors
Or start from your own party
The calculator takes your guest count, the ages, the start time and the weather, and gives you the whole list with the same citations.