Open Bar Calculator
Estimate beer, wine, and liquor inventory for a hosted bar, then price that list with current local retail and service quotes.
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Quick Answer
For 100 drinking guests at a 5-hour event, the Standard Crowd baseline rounds to 9 beer cases, 40 wine bottles, and 12 liquor bottles. The built-in retail assumptions estimate $820-$1,595 for alcohol only; service and event costs are excluded.
Open Bar Quantities by Guest Count
Five-hour event, all guests drinking, Standard Crowd profile, no buffer. Retail estimate covers alcohol only.
| Guests | Beer (cases) | Wine (bottles) | Liquor (750ml) | Retail alcohol estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 5 | 20 | 6 | $420-815 |
| 100 | 9 | 40 | 12 | $820-1,595 |
| 150 | 13 | 60 | 18 | $1,220-2,375 |
| 200 | 17 | 80 | 24 | $1,620-3,155 |
100-Guest Retail Alcohol Example
Total: $820-$1,595 for alcohol only. This five-hour example excludes tax, delivery, mixers, ice, staffing, glassware, permits, and venue charges; replace the assumptions with current local prices.
How to Calculate Your Open Bar
Guest Count
How many people are coming?
Duration
How long is the bar open?
Crowd Type
Beer lovers? Wine crowd?
Get Your List
Quantities + retail alcohol range
What to Include in Your Open Bar
Beer Selection
- Light lager or pilsner
- Domestic favorite
- Craft/IPA option
Wine Selection
- Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio
- Cabernet or Merlot
- Rose or sparkling (optional)
Liquor Selection
- Vodka, if it fits the cocktail menu
- Whiskey/Bourbon
- Rum, Gin, Tequila
Open Bar vs Cash Bar vs Limited Bar
These options combine different payment terms and menu scopes. Compare written quotes that define inventory, staffing, fees, minimums and service responsibilities.
Open Bar (Host Bar)
Host pays for everything
- Host covers the drinks served
- The contract defines the hosted menu and product selection
- Retailer return rules must be confirmed in advance
- Budget includes both inventory and service
Limited Bar (Consumption Bar)
Beer, wine & 1-2 signature cocktails
- Narrower menu can simplify purchasing
- Signature cocktails add a personal touch
- Ask the provider how the shorter menu affects setup and peak service capacity
- Easy to tailor to a short, intentional menu
Cash Bar
Guests pay for their own drinks
- Guests pay listed drink prices; host obligations depend on the contract
- Venue sets drink prices and payment terms
- Host may still owe staffing or minimum fees
- Communicate the arrangement before the event
| Feature | Open Bar | Limited Bar | Cash Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per person | Inventory + service quote | Package or consumption quote | Venue fees and minimums |
| 100-guest total cost | Price the calculator list, then add service | Written quote required | Written venue terms required |
| Guest experience | Broad hosted choice | Concise hosted choice | Guest-paid choice |
| Drink selection | Contracted hosted menu | Contracted limited menu | Venue menu (guest pays) |
| Wedding appropriate? | Host decision | Host decision | Host and venue decision |
| Planning scope | Confirm inventory, staffing, fees and service terms | Confirm menu, labor, package and consumption terms | Confirm guest prices, host fees, minimums and payment terms |
What to Price for Each Bar Tier
Brand choice and menu breadth change both inventory and service cost. Use the calculator for quantities, then price the actual products and service model in your market.
| Tier | What's Included | Pricing step |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Beer & wine only | Price the beer and wine list locally |
| Mid-Range | Beer, wine, basic liquor | Add the spirits, mixers, and service quote |
| Premium | Full bar, top-shelf options | Quote named premium brands and wider selection |
| Ultra Premium | Craft cocktails, premium spirits | Quote cocktail labor, specialty ingredients, and rentals |
Compare written quotes with the same guest count, service duration, tax, gratuity, setup, breakdown, rentals, and minimum-spend terms.
Staffing Questions for Your Bar Provider
Staffing depends on menu complexity, service points, venue layout, local requirements, setup, and cleanup. Use these prompts when requesting a written plan from a licensed provider.
Beer & Wine Only
Ask for a beer-and-wine service plan
Confirm service points, restocking, water and alcohol-free service, and whether self-service is allowed.
Full Bar with Cocktails
Ask for a cocktail-service plan
Ask the provider to calculate staffing and throughput for the named cocktails, preparation steps, garnishes and service stations in your plan.
| Guest Count | Beer/Wine Bar | Full Bar |
|---|---|---|
| 50 guests | Confirm with provider | Confirm with provider |
| 100 guests | Confirm with provider | Confirm with provider |
| 150 guests | Confirm with provider | Confirm with provider |
| 200 guests | Confirm with provider | Confirm with provider |
Request an itemized quote covering labor hours, setup, breakdown, travel, gratuity, insurance, and any service minimum.
Open Bar Quick Reference
Four-hour event, all guests drinking, Standard Crowd profile, no buffer; alcohol only
| Guests | Beer | Wine | Liquor | Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 4 cases | 17 bottles | 5 bottles | $350-680 |
| 100 | 7 cases | 33 bottles | 10 bottles | $670-1,305 |
| 150 | 11 cases | 50 bottles | 15 bottles | $1,020-1,985 |
| 200 | 14 cases | 66 bottles | 20 bottles | $1,340-2,610 |
Uses $20-35 per beer case, $10-20 per wine bottle, and $20-40 per liquor bottle. Adjust the calculator above, then replace these assumptions with local prices.
UK Wedding Bar Costs
Planning a wedding in the UK? The terminology, costs, and logistics work differently. In the UK, an "open bar" is more commonly called a "free bar" or "hosted bar," and many venues operate differently from US ones.
Quotes to Request
UK-Specific Bar Options
- Corkage fees - Confirm whether outside alcohol is allowed, how opened bottles are counted, and whether VAT or service is added.
- Drinks reception - Welcome drinks (prosecco, Pimm's) provided by host, then cash bar for the evening.
- Bartender hire - Request labor hours, setup, breakdown, travel, glassware, insurance, and service-charge terms.
- Mobile bars - Compare the included menu, minimum spend, licensing responsibility, power, water, travel, and wet-weather plan.
Venue packages and licensing arrangements vary. Confirm who supplies and sells the alcohol, which licence covers the event, and every host-paid or guest-paid charge in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an open bar cost for 100 guests?
For 100 drinking guests at a 5-hour event, the Sipulus Standard Crowd baseline is 9 beer cases, 40 wine bottles, and 12 liquor bottles. Using the calculator's published retail ranges, that inventory is about $820-$1,595 for alcohol only. Add current local quotes for tax, delivery, mixers, ice, staffing, glassware, permits, and venue charges.
How much alcohol do I need for an open bar wedding?
Sipulus budgets 2 servings per drinking guest in the first hour and 1 per later hour. For 100 drinking guests at a 5-hour wedding, that is 600 servings. With the Standard Crowd split, plan about 9 cases of beer, 40 bottles of wine, and 12 bottles of liquor before any optional buffer or champagne toast.
What's the difference between open bar and cash bar?
With an open or hosted bar, the host pays. With a cash bar, guests buy their own drinks. A limited hosted bar narrows the menu to beer, wine, and perhaps one or two cocktails. Availability, licensing, minimum spend, and service fees depend on the venue and local rules, so compare written quotes for the same service period.
How many bartenders do I need for 150 guests?
Ask your licensed caterer, venue, or bar service to staff the event based on guest count, menu complexity, bar locations, service time, and local requirements. A shorter menu may reduce some build steps, but the provider must test its setup and peak throughput; no single staffing ratio fits every layout.
Is it cheaper to buy your own alcohol for an open bar?
It can be, but compare like with like. Price the calculator's inventory locally, then add tax, delivery, licensed staff, insurance, glassware, ice, mixers, permits, venue fees, corkage, and cleanup. Compare that total with a written venue package, and confirm whether outside alcohol and returns are allowed.
What should I include in a DIY open bar for a wedding?
Start with the drinks your guests actually prefer. A practical menu might include a small beer selection, red and white wine, the spirits required for a limited cocktail list, matching mixers, water, and appealing alcohol-free choices. The calculator's Standard Crowd profile uses a transparent 33% beer, 33% wine, and 34% liquor split that you can change.
Plan Your Open Bar
Get a shopping list with quantities and a built-in US retail alcohol range. Price staffing, tax, delivery, mixers, ice, glassware and venue charges separately.
Calculate My Open Bar