Calculate exactly how much beer, wine, and liquor you need for your house party. No over-buying, no running out, no stress.
Calculate My DrinksHow many friends are coming over?
Afternoon hang or all-night rager?
Beer, wine, liquor, and mixers
What to buy for a 4-hour party (beer-focused crowd)
Adjust ratios based on your crowd. Use our full calculator for exact quantities.
Football, basketball, playoffs - sports fans drink beer. Go heavy on lagers and light beers.
Dinner party vibes, catching up with friends. More wine, more variety.
Longer duration means more drinks. Mixed drinks become more popular as night goes on.
Ask guests to bring their own favorites. You provide basics and mixers.
Everything you need for 20 guests, under $200
Total: $175-225 - That's less than $10 per person!
For 20 guests at a 3-4 hour house party, plan for about 60-80 drinks total. A good mix is: 2 cases of beer (48 bottles), 4-5 bottles of wine, and 2-3 bottles of liquor with mixers. Adjust ratios based on your crowd's preferences.
For casual house parties, plan 3-4 drinks per person for a 3-4 hour event. The first hour typically sees higher consumption. Always have extra - it is better to have leftovers than run out.
For casual house parties, beer is usually the safest bet - it is easy to serve, most people drink it, and it is budget-friendly. Add some wine for variety and a bottle or two of vodka for those who prefer mixed drinks.
Focus on beer (especially if buying in bulk cases), one mid-range vodka, and basic mixers. Skip the fancy stuff - for casual parties, guests care more about having drinks available than brand names. Buy at Costco or warehouse stores for best prices.
Plan for 1 pound of ice per person, plus extra for cooling drinks. For 20 guests, get 25-30 pounds. Use large coolers to chill drinks and smaller ice buckets for drink prep. Buy ice day-of to ensure it stays frozen.
Always have water, soda, and at least one interesting non-alcoholic option. Sparkling water with lime, lemonade, or mocktail ingredients show thoughtfulness. Plan for about 20-30% of guests to prefer non-alcoholic drinks at some point.
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