Skip to main content
Calcimator

Alcohol Calculator

Estimate how much beer, wine, and liquor to buy for your event based on guest count, duration, and drink preferences.

Inputs

hours
%
%
%

Results

Total Drinks Needed

280

Cases of Beer (24-pack)5
Bottles of Wine20
Bottles of Liquor (750ml)5
Ice Needed120 lbs
Mixers Needed10 liters
Non-Alcoholic Drinks121
How to Use This Calculator
  1. Enter the total Number of Guests attending your event.
  2. Set Event Duration in hours — the calculator assumes 2 drinks in the first hour, then 1 per hour after.
  3. Adjust Guests Who Drink Alcohol (%) to reflect your crowd; a typical event is around 70%.
  4. Set Beer Preference and Wine Preference percentages; the remainder is automatically allocated to liquor.
  5. Review the outputs: Cases of Beer, Bottles of Wine, Bottles of Liquor (750 ml), Ice Needed, and Mixers to buy.
  6. Use Non-Alcoholic Drinks to plan sodas, water, and juices for non-drinking guests.

How the result changes with Number of Guests

Number of GuestsTotal Drinks Needed
59207
182637
3291,152
4511,579

What each input means

Number of Guests
Total number of guests at the event.
Event Duration
How long the event will last in hours.
Guests Who Drink Alcohol
Percentage of guests expected to drink alcohol.
Beer Preference
Percentage of alcoholic drinks that will be beer.
Wine Preference
Percentage of alcoholic drinks that will be wine. Remainder goes to liquor.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

  1. Identify Input Parameters
    4 parameters
    Number of Guests = 80, Event Duration = 4, Guests Who Drink Alcohol = 70, Beer Preference = 40 = 5 input(s) provided
  2. Calculate Total Drinks Needed
    Total Drinks Needed
    280 = 280
  3. Calculate Cases of Beer
    Cases of Beer
    5 = 5
  4. Calculate Bottles of Wine
    Bottles of Wine
    20 = 20

Related Calculators

The questions that sit next to this one — chosen by subject, including calculators filed under a different category.

Event Planning

Catering Quantity Calculator

Estimate how much food and drink you need for your event based on guest count, meal type, and number of courses.

Event Planning

Party Supplies Calculator

Calculate exactly how many plates, cups, napkins, utensils, tablecloths, and trash bags you need for your event.

Health & Fitness

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Calculator

Estimate your blood alcohol content based on weight, gender, drinks consumed, and time elapsed. Understand impairment levels and time to sobriety.

Cooking & Nutrition

ABV Calculator

Calculate Alcohol By Volume (ABV) from original and final gravity readings. Essential for home brewers and winemakers.

Event Planning

Event Budget Calculator

Break down your total event budget into recommended allocations for venue, catering, decor, photography, and more.

More in Life Events, Faith & Community.