How this calculator works
Buy meat by raw weight, and allow for bone and shrinkage. A boneless roast or fillet needs about ½ lb per adult; bone-in cuts ¾ lb; a whole turkey 1 lb (1½ lb for leftovers), because much of the weight is bone. Brisket and pork shoulder lose a lot of weight as they cook, so they need more raw meat per person. Children count as half an adult.
Servings = adults + children × 0.5
Meat to buy = servings × pounds per adult (raw)
Whole turkey 1 lb (1½ with leftovers) · boneless ½ lb · bone-in ¾ lb
Assumptions and tips
- Amounts assume the meat is the main dish with sides; for a meat-only barbecue, add 25–50%.
Worked example
Using the default values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Meat | Whole turkey |
| Adults | 12 |
| Children (count as half) | 0 |
| Leftovers? | No |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Meat to buy | 12 lb |
| Per adult | 1 lb |
| Servings | 12 |
| Basis | whole bird, raw |
| Suggested bird size | 12–14 lb |
Step by step:
- Servings = 12 adults + 0 children × 0.5 = 12
- Raw weight per adult = 1 lb
- 12 × 1 lb = 12 lb → round up to the nearest ¼ lb
How much meat for 10 adults
No leftovers — calculated with this tool.
| Meat | Meat to buy |
|---|---|
| Whole turkey | 10 lb |
| Ham, bone-in | 7.5 lb |
| Ham, boneless | 5 lb |
| Brisket | 7.5 lb |
| Pork shoulder | 7.5 lb |
| Ribs | 10 lb |
| Chicken, bone-in | 5 lb |
| Beef roast, boneless | 5 lb |
| Burgers | 3.5 lb |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying a cooked-weight amount of brisket or pork shoulder — they lose 40–50% of their raw weight.
- Forgetting the bone: a bone-in ham needs about 50% more raw weight per person than boneless.
Frequently asked questions
How much turkey per person?
About 1 lb of whole turkey per person, or 1½ lb if you want leftovers — a 12–14 lb bird for 12 people.
How much ham per person?
¾ lb of bone-in ham or ½ lb of boneless ham per person.
How much brisket per person?
About ¾ lb of raw brisket per person, since it loses roughly 40% of its weight as it cooks.
How much pulled pork for 20 people?
About 15 lb of raw bone-in pork shoulder.
Sources
- The Old Farmer’s Almanac: Party planner — how much food to serve a crowd
- USDA FSIS: Let’s Talk Turkey — a consumer guide to safely roasting a turkey
Built and reviewed by Anirban Kundu, Creator & Editor · M.Sc Physics, 20 years teaching science