It's the question we're asked most often before a party: how much should I buy? Too little and the bar runs dry at ten o'clock. Too much and the garage is full of boxes for a month afterwards. Here's the rule our bartenders use, a calculator that does the maths for you, and examples for a party of 50 and a party of 100.
The rule of thumb
- The first hour: allow 2 drinks per guest.
- Each hour after that: 1 drink per guest.
- Alcohol-free: make at least a quarter of the drinks alcohol-free, and always have plenty of water.
- Ice: around 0.5 kg per guest, or 1 kg per guest if you're serving cocktails.
- Glasses: 2–3 glasses per guest over the evening if there's no washing up on site.
The rule assumes an evening party where people stand and chat. For an afternoon gathering, a confirmation or a party where people sit at the table for a long time, you can bring the numbers down by a third.
Calculator
- Total drinks
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- Of which alcohol-free
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- Beer from kegs (30 L)
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- Glasses
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- Ice
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- Bartenders
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A guide, not an exact figure. Our bartenders go through the quantities with you before the party.
Example: a party of 50 for 4 hours
50 guests × (2 + 3) = 250 drinks. Of these, around 63 are alcohol-free. If about 40% of the alcoholic drinks are beer, that's around 75 glasses, or just over 26 litres, which fits in one 30-litre keg. Allow around 125 glasses and 50 kg of ice if cocktails are on the menu. Two bartenders will keep the queue short.
Example: a party of 100 for 5 hours
100 guests × (2 + 4) = 600 drinks, of which around 150 are alcohol-free. With 40% beer, that's around 180 glasses of beer, or about 63 litres. Two 30-litre kegs won't quite cover it, so plan for three. Allow around 250 glasses, 100 kg of ice with cocktails, and three bartenders.
Tips for getting the quantities right
- Buy where you can return. Ask whether unopened items can be returned. Then it's safe to buy a little extra.
- Keep the selection small. Two or three cocktails on the menu, one kind of beer, and one red and one white are enough for most parties. The fewer varieties, the less is left over.
- The ice runs out first. If anything runs out at a party, it's the ice. Buy plenty and keep it in a cool box or freezer until the party.
- Don't forget the alcohol-free bar. Good alcohol-free cocktails are popular. See our alcohol-free cocktail recipes.
Equipment for the bar
Once you know the quantities, it's time to think about the equipment. At RentEvent you can hire a beer tap, beer glasses, wine glasses and cocktail glasses, and add a bartender. Return the glasses unwashed. Delivery and collection are free in the capital area*. *On orders over ISK 10,000
Frequently asked questions
How many drinks per person do you need for a party?
Allow 2 drinks per person in the first hour and 1 per hour after that. For a four-hour party, that's around 5 drinks per person.
How much ice do you need for a party?
Around 0.5 kg per guest, or 1 kg per guest if you're serving cocktails.
How many beer kegs do you need for 100 people?
If beer makes up around 40% of the alcoholic drinks at a five-hour party, you need about 63 litres. Two 30-litre kegs won't quite cover it, so plan for three.