Party checklist
Party supplies list by number of guests
This is the shopping list on its own, for any occasion. Enter the number of guests, what you are serving and how long the party lasts. Every line is counted from the guest number with the rule shown beside it, so you can see where each figure comes from and change it.
Plates and bowls
Cups and glasses
Cutlery and napkins
Serving
Tables and seating
Clean-up
Decorations and extras
Tips for buying party supplies
- Every figure is a planning estimate built from one rule and your guest number. The rule is written beside the item so you can judge it: if your guests are careful with cups, buy fewer.
- Shops sell tableware in packs, so round each count up to the next pack and keep the receipt for unopened ones.
- The party length changes cups more than anything else. Over three hours the list moves from two cold cups each to about three.
- This page counts supplies, not food or drink. For those, use the checklist for your kind of party, where the food lines follow the same guest number.
Questions
How many plates do I need for a party?
For a full meal the list counts one large plate each plus a quarter more, and one dessert plate each plus five. For finger food it counts two small plates each. Enter your guest number to see the totals.
How many cups for each guest?
Two cold cups each for a party of up to three hours and about three each for a longer one. With hot drinks switched on, hot cups are added for about two in three guests.
How many napkins should I buy?
About three each for a meal and two each for finger food or cake only. They are cheap, so rounding up to the next pack is the usual answer.
Where do these numbers come from?
They are simple rules of thumb written by us for planning, such as two each or one for every ten guests plus two. They are not measurements or statistics, and each one is shown next to its item.
Why is there no date on this list?
It is a shopping list, so nothing on it has a deadline of its own. The party checklists on this site have the dated tasks, including when to buy tableware.
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