How much wine do I need for 40 guests?

You need 28 bottles of wine for 40 guests at a labor day party. This provides 118 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much wine per person for a labor day party?

Plan for 3 servings of wine per person at a labor day 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 bottle of wine?

One bottle of wine contains 5 servings. For 40 guests, you'll need 28 bottles to provide 118 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink wine at a labor day party?

At a labor day party with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 28 bottles you need.

Should I buy extra wine as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 28 bottles already includes a 15% buffer (4 extra bottles). 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 28 bottles of wine last for 40 guests?

28 bottles of wine will last approximately 5 hours for 40 guests at a labor day party. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Wine for a 40 Guest Labor Day Party?

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bottles of wine

For a 40-guest labor day party lasting 5 hours

15% buffer included

118

Total servings

Per person

Buffer bottles

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 30 drinkers

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

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 5 hours

= 225 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 5-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.75)

= 169 adjusted drinks

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

Apply labor day party modifier

× 0.7 (-30% for wine)

= 118 wine servings needed

Labor Day Partys typically consume 30% less wine than average.

Convert to bottles

118 servings ÷ 5 servings per bottle

= 23.6 bottles (raw)

Each bottle of wine provides 5 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

23.6 × 1.15 = 27.1, rounded up

= 28 bottles

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: Wine by Guest Count

Guests	Wine Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	18 bottles	74 servings
50 guests	35 bottles	148 servings
75 guests	53 bottles	221 servings
100 guests	70 bottles	295 servings
150 guests	105 bottles	443 servings
200 guests	140 bottles	590 servings

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

Your Shopping List

Everything you need, plus essentials you might forget

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Wine

The main event

bottles

Don't forget these

Wine opener/corkscrew (Have a backup!)

2 pieces
Buy
Wine glasses (or plastic) (2 per drinker for variety)

60 glasses
Buy

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Pro Tips for Your Labor Day Party

Insider advice from experienced bartenders

💡

End of summer means people are ready to indulge one last time.

⏰

Weather can vary - have backup plans for rain.

🎯

Pool parties need drinks near the pool AND inside.

🧊

It's often slightly cooler than July - ice lasts longer.

✨

Monday holiday means people may drink a bit more than usual.

🛒 Buying Guide

Similar to 4th of July but slightly higher consumption as people celebrate the end of summer. Plan 5-6 drinks per person with heavy beer emphasis.

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