How much meat per person for a BBQ?

The standard recommendation is 250-300g of raw meat per person for a barbecue. This typically includes a mix of burgers, sausages, and optionally chicken pieces or steaks. For hearty eaters, increase to 350g. For a lighter crowd or where there are plenty of sides, 200g is sufficient.

How many burgers and sausages per person?

A good starting point is 1 burger (150g raw) and 2 sausages (60g each raw) per person, totalling about 270g of meat. Adjust up for hearty appetites. Some guests will prefer more of one than the other, so having a mix works well.

How many buns should I buy?

Allow 1.5 buns per person. Some guests will have a burger in a bun plus a sausage in a bun, while others may skip the bun. Having slightly more than one per person ensures nobody goes without. Buy a mix of burger buns and hot dog rolls.

What sides should I serve at a BBQ?

Classic BBQ sides include coleslaw (80g per person), green salad (60g per person), potato salad (100g per person), corn on the cob (half per person), and bread rolls. Allow about 100g of salad sides per person in total when offering 2-3 options.

How do I cater for vegetarians at a BBQ?

Allow 1-2 veggie burgers or halloumi portions per vegetarian guest. As a rough guide, assume 10-15% of your guests may be vegetarian unless you know otherwise. Keep vegetarian items separate from meat on the grill or use a separate cooking area.

Should I adjust for weather and time of day?

People tend to eat slightly more at evening BBQs than lunchtime ones. Hot weather can slightly reduce appetites but increase drink consumption. If in doubt, stick with the standard quantities and have sides available to fill any gaps.

BakeCalcs

BBQ Quantity Calculator

Calculate meat, buns, and side quantities for a barbecue based on guest count and appetite level.

Number of Guests

Appetite Level

How We Calculate This

This calculator uses UK BBQ portion guidelines to estimate meat, bun, and side quantities. Meat is calculated per person as raw weight, then split into typical burger and sausage counts.

Per Person Quantities (Raw Weight)

Standard: 275g meat, 1.5 buns, 100g salad
Hearty: 350g meat, 1.5 buns, 100g salad
Light: 200g meat, 1.5 buns, 100g salad

Typical Meat Split

1 burger patty: ~150g raw
2 sausages: ~120g raw total
Scaled proportionally for appetite level

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are based on standard ratios and conversions. Results may vary with specific ingredients, equipment, and conditions.