Meat Per Person Calculator
Calculate how much meat to buy per person for any gathering.
Covers beef, chicken, pork, fish, and more with bone-in adjustments.
Planning the right amount of meat for a gathering is one of the most common cooking questions. Too little and guests leave hungry; too much and you’re left with a week’s worth of leftovers. The correct amount depends on the type of meat, whether it’s bone-in or boneless, how it’s served, and the appetite level of your guests.
Standard Serving Size Guidelines
As a general rule, plan for the following amounts of raw, boneless meat per adult:
- Main dish (the primary protein): 170–230g (6–8 oz) per person
- Secondary dish (with other proteins or large sides): 115–170g (4–6 oz) per person
- Appetizer or slider format: 57–85g (2–3 oz) per person
Bone-In Adjustment
Bone-in cuts contain significant non-edible weight. You need to buy considerably more bone-in meat than boneless to get the same amount of actual food:
| Cut | Buy This Much Per Person |
|---|---|
| Boneless chicken breast or thighs | 170–200g (6–7 oz) |
| Bone-in chicken pieces | 280–340g (10–12 oz) |
| Boneless beef roast | 170–230g (6–8 oz) |
| Bone-in beef ribs | 340–450g (12–16 oz) |
| Pork chops (boneless) | 170–200g (6–7 oz) |
| Pork ribs (bone-in) | 450–500g (16–18 oz) |
| Fish fillets (boneless) | 140–200g (5–7 oz) |
| Whole fish | 300–400g (10–14 oz) |
Cooking Loss (Shrinkage)
All meat loses weight during cooking due to moisture evaporation and fat rendering. Common shrinkage rates:
- Ground beef: 25–30%
- Chicken breasts: 20–25%
- Beef roast: 25–35%
- Pork ribs: 30–40%
- Fish: 15–20%
The calculator uses raw weight figures which automatically account for expected cooked portions.
Appetite Considerations
Children typically eat 50–70% of an adult portion. Heavy eaters or athletes may need 30–40% more. If serving many side dishes, you can reduce meat quantities slightly.
How we build and check this calculator
This calculator runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter stay on your device. The math behind it is written by hand and tested against worked examples and standard references before the page goes live.
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