Free party planning tool
Party drink calculator
How much beer, wine, liquor and ice to buy for your party. Enter your guests and hours and get a shopping list you can text, print or share.
Your shopping list
0drinks
- Beer12 oz cans or bottles
- Wine750 ml bottles, about 5 glasses each
- Liquor750 ml bottles, about 16 drinks each (1.5 oz pours)
- Mixerssoda, tonic, juice for mixed drinks
- Limes and lemonsfor garnish, about 8 wedges each
- Icefor drinks and keeping everything cold
- Cups and napkins
- Water and soft drinksfor drivers, keiki and non-drinkers
Includes a 10% buffer. Running out is worse than taking extra home, so round up when in doubt.
Quick guide
How much alcohol for a party?
For a 4-hour party with a full bar and an average crowd, here is what to buy. Use the calculator above for your exact numbers.
| Guests | Beer | Wine | Liquor (750 ml) | Ice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 45 (2 cases) | 7 bottles | 3 bottles | 200 lb |
| 50 | 89 (4 cases) | 14 bottles | 5 bottles | 280 lb |
| 100 | 177 (8 cases) | 27 bottles | 9 bottles | 440 lb |
| 150 | 264 (11 cases) | 40 bottles | 13 bottles | 600 lb |
| 200 | 353 (15 cases) | 53 bottles | 17 bottles | 760 lb |
How the calculator works
- One drink per guest per hour for an average crowd, plus a 10% buffer. Light crowds drink about a quarter less, party crowds about a quarter more.
- A full bar splits roughly 40% beer, 30% wine and 30% liquor. Beer and wine is about 55/45. Mostly cocktails shifts more than half the drinks to liquor.
- Wine: a 750 ml bottle pours about five 5 oz glasses. Liquor: a 750 ml bottle makes about 16 drinks at 1.5 oz each.
- Ice: based on what our bartenders actually go through at Oahu events, about one 40 lb bag per 25 guests, plus extra for longer events and mixed drinks. In Hawaii heat, more ice is always better.
Questions
Party drink planning FAQ
How many drinks per person should I plan for?
Plan on about one drink per guest per hour, a little more in the first hour. For a 4-hour party with 100 guests, that is roughly 400 to 450 drinks once you add a small buffer.
How much ice do I need for a party in Hawaii?
More than you think. Ice melts fast outdoors on Oahu, and you need it for coolers as well as cups. For 100 guests over 4 hours with mixed drinks, plan on about 440 lb (eleven 40 lb bags). Beer and wine only needs a bit less.
Should I buy 750 ml or 1.75 L bottles of liquor?
Handles (1.75 L) are cheaper per drink and work well for a busy bar. Fifths (750 ml) are easier to pour and leave fewer half-empty bottles. The calculator shows both.
Can Free Spirits help with the bar?
Yes. You buy the alcohol and our bartenders pour on your behalf. We can also bring ice, mixers, garnishes, cups and the bar setup, and we’ll check your shopping list against your guest count before the event. Get a quote and we’ll reply within 24 hours.
Want someone else to run the bar?
Our bartenders handle setup, pouring, ice and cleanup so you can enjoy your own party. Tell us about your event and we’ll send your quote within 24 hours. Prefer to talk? Call or text 808-445-9094.
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