How much beer do I need for 75 guests?

You need 12 cases of beer for 75 guests at a holiday party. This provides 247 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a holiday party?

Plan for 3.3 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 75 guests, you'll need 12 cases to provide 247 total servings.

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

At a holiday party with 75 guests, approximately 56 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 12 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 12 cases already includes a 15% buffer (1 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 12 cases of beer last for 75 guests?

12 cases of beer will last approximately 4 hours for 75 guests at a holiday party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

Calculate a different drink for this event

🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer viewing 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits

How Much Beer for a 75 Guest Holiday Party?

🍺

cases of beer

For a 75-guest holiday party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

247

Total servings

3.3

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

75 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 56 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

56 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 336 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)

= 273 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)

= 247 beer servings needed

Holiday Partys typically consume 10% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

247 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 10.3 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

10.3 × 1.15 = 11.8, rounded up

= 12 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	82 servings
50 guests	8 cases	165 servings
75 guests (you)	12 cases	247 servings
100 guests	16 cases	329 servings
150 guests	24 cases	494 servings
200 guests	32 cases	659 servings

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

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

🍺

Beer

The main event

cases

Don't forget these

Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

144 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

6 coolers
Buy

Email Your Shopping List

We'll send your complete list plus pro tips for a stress-free event

No spam, unsubscribe anytime

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.

Explore More Calculators

Find the perfect amounts for any event

More for your Holiday Party

Different guest count?

Other events (75 guests)

🎉

Planning a different event?

Use our free calculator for any combination of drinks, events, and guest counts.

Browse All 336 Calculators