How much beer do I need for 20 guests?

You need 6 cases of beer for 20 guests at a march madness party. This provides 105 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a march madness party?

Plan for 5.3 servings of beer per person at a march madness 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 20 guests, you'll need 6 cases to provide 105 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a march madness party?

At a march madness party with 20 guests, approximately 16 guests (80%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 6 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 6 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 6 cases of beer last for 20 guests?

6 cases of beer will last approximately 4 hours for 20 guests at a march madness party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Beer for a 20 Guest March Madness Party?

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cases of beer

For a 20-guest march madness party lasting 4 hours

15% buffer included

105

Total servings

5.3

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

20 guests × 80% drinking rate

= 16 drinkers

At small events, about 80% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

16 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 4 hours

= 96 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)

= 78 adjusted drinks

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

Apply march madness party modifier

× 1.35 (+35% for beer)

= 105 beer servings needed

March Madness Partys typically consume 35% more beer than average.

Convert to cases

105 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 4.4 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

4.4 × 1.15 = 5.1, rounded up

= 6 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	8 cases	131 servings
50 guests	15 cases	263 servings
75 guests	23 cases	394 servings
100 guests	30 cases	525 servings
150 guests	45 cases	788 servings
200 guests	60 cases	1050 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for march madness 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!)

72 lbs
Coolers (2 cases per cooler)

3 coolers
Buy

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Pro Tips for Your March Madness Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

Games run back-to-back during opening weekend - people may stay 6-8 hours.

⏰

Stock light beers for marathon watching sessions.

🎯

Multiple games mean multiple peaks - don't front-load everything.

🧊

Have non-alcoholic options for designated drivers and early bracket busts.

✨

Weekend games have 30% higher consumption than weekday games.

🛒 Buying Guide

March Madness parties are beer-heavy but lighter than Super Bowl (longer duration, people pace themselves). Stock 70% light beers. Have coolers at every TV location. Plan 4-5 beers per person for a 4-hour session.

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