Wedding Alcohol Calculator
Tell us your guest count, hours, and drink mix. Get a precise shopping list of beer, wine, liquor, mixers, ice, and barware — built by professional mobile bartenders.
Free plan includes up to 2 saved lists. Pro is $5/month.
Wedding alcohol estimates by guest count
Quick reference for a 4-hour reception with a balanced bar (beer / wine / liquor).
| Guests | Spirits (750ml) | Wine (750ml) | Beer (bottles) | Ice (lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 3 | 10 | 60 | 50 |
| 100 | 5 | 20 | 120 | 100 |
| 150 | 8 | 30 | 180 | 150 |
| 200 | 10 | 40 | 240 | 200 |
| 250 | 13 | 50 | 300 | 250 |
Rough planning estimates for a 4-hour event with a balanced drink mix. For an exact list tuned to your guest count, hours, and specialty cocktails, run the full calculator.
Built by mobile bartenders, not a generic party calculator.
Adjusts for cocktail hour, dinner service, and dancing hours.
Includes mixers, garnishes, ice, cups, and barware — not just bottles.
Save the list to your account and reuse it for the next wedding.
Frequently asked questions
How much alcohol do I need for 100 wedding guests?
For a typical 4-hour wedding reception with 100 adult guests, plan on about 5 bottles of spirits (750ml), 20 bottles of wine, and 120 beers, plus mixers and roughly 100 lbs of ice. Bar Buddy List adjusts these numbers based on your exact hours, drink mix, and any specialty cocktails.
How many drinks per guest at a wedding?
The bartender rule of thumb is 1 drink per guest per hour for the first hour and 1 drink per hour after that. A 4-hour reception with 100 guests works out to ~400 drinks. Adjust up for cocktail hour or a heavy-drinking crowd.
What's the typical beer / wine / liquor split?
A balanced wedding bar usually splits roughly 40% beer, 30% wine, and 30% liquor. Daytime weddings tend to lean wine and cocktails; evening receptions lean liquor and beer. The calculator lets you set the mix per event.
How much ice should I order for a wedding bar?
Plan on at least 1 lb of ice per guest for a 4-hour reception — more in hot weather or if you're serving frozen cocktails. Bar Buddy List calculates ice for drinks plus chilling beer, wine, and water.
Is the wedding alcohol calculator free?
Yes — the calculator is free. The free plan saves up to 2 shopping lists. Pro is $5/month for unlimited saved client lists, brand customization, and branded PDF exports.
Get an exact list in 30 seconds
Enter guests, hours, and a drink mix. Bar Buddy List returns spirits, beer, wine, mixers, ice, and barware — ready to print, share, or export.
Build your shopping list