How much beer do I need for 300 guests?

You need 42 cases of beer for 300 guests at a holiday party. This provides 856 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a holiday party?

Plan for 2.9 servings of beer per person at a holiday party. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a case of beer?

One case of beer contains 24 servings. For 300 guests, you'll need 42 cases to provide 856 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a holiday party?

At a holiday party with 300 guests, approximately 195 guests (65%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 42 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 42 cases already includes a 15% buffer (6 extra cases). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 42 cases of beer last for 300 guests?

42 cases of beer will last approximately 4 hours for 300 guests at a holiday party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Beer for a 300 Guest Holiday Party?

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cases of beer

For a 300-guest holiday party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

856

Total servings

2.9

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

300 guests × 65% drinking rate

= 195 drinkers

At xlarge events, about 65% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

195 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 1170 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 4-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.25)

= 951 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply holiday party modifier

× 0.9 (-10% for beer)

= 856 beer servings needed

Holiday Partys typically consume 10% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

856 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 35.7 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

35.7 × 1.15 = 41.1, rounded up

= 42 cases

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

* Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Beer by Guest Count

Guests	Beer Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	4 cases	71 servings
50 guests	7 cases	143 servings
75 guests	11 cases	214 servings
100 guests	14 cases	285 servings
150 guests	21 cases	428 servings
200 guests	28 cases	571 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for holiday party.

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

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Beer

The main event

cases

Don't forget these

Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

504 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

21 coolers
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Pro Tips for Your Holiday Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Red wine outsells white 2:1 at winter holidays - adjust accordingly.

⏰

Festive signature cocktails are expected - plan for mixers like cranberry juice and eggnog.

🎯

70% of champagne at NYE is consumed between 11:30pm and 12:15am - time your chilling.

🧊

Warm drinks like mulled wine and hot toddies are crowd pleasers in cold months.

✨

People drink 20% more at company holiday parties than other corporate events.

🛒 Buying Guide

Holiday parties call for festive options. Stock extra red wine and have ingredients for 1-2 seasonal cocktails (mulled wine, spiked cider, or classic eggnog). For NYE specifically, double your champagne order and have everything chilled by 11pm.

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