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Potluck calculator

For a potluck, ask for one main for every 10 people, one side or dessert for every 12 and one salad for every 16, counting kids as half. A 9x13 pan feeds about 10 as a main and 12 as a side or dessert, when it's one dish among many. For 30 adults at a 3-hour dinner that's 3 mains, 3 sides, 2 salads, 3 desserts and 4 drinks.

Change the numbers and the list updates. Updated October 28, 2026.

Your potluck

Meal

For 30 adults

20 sign-ups · 11 dishes

  • MainsEach: a 9x13 pan, slow cooker or platter3sign-ups30 servings ÷ 10 a dish → 3 dishes
  • SidesEach: a 9x13 pan or big bowl3sign-ups30 servings ÷ 12 a dish → 3 dishes
  • SaladsEach: a big salad bowl2sign-ups30 × 0.75 = 23 servings ÷ 12 a dish → 2 dishes
  • DessertsEach: a 9x13 pan of bars or 2 dozen cookies3sign-ups30 servings ÷ 12 a dish → 3 dishes
  • Bread or rollsEach: 2 dozen rolls2sign-ups30 × 1.5 = 45 rolls ÷ 24 a pack → 2 packs
  • DrinksEach: a 24-pack of cans or three 2-liter bottles4sign-ups30 people × 3 hours = 90 drinks ÷ 24 each → 4
  • IceEach: two 10 lb bags2sign-ups30 people × 1 lb = 30 lb ÷ 20 lb each → 2
  • Plates, cups & napkinsEach: paper goods for up to 50 guests1sign-up60 plates, 30 dessert plates, 60 cups, 90 napkins

Food is out for 3 hours. USDA advice is that perishable food should sit out no more than 2 hours, so ask for cold dishes on ice and hot ones in a slow cooker.

Your sign-up list

8 lines
  1. Mains x3
  2. Sides x3
  3. Salads x2
  4. Desserts x3
  5. Bread or rolls x2
  6. Drinks x4
  7. Ice x2
  8. Plates, cups & napkins
Turn this into a sign-up sheet

It opens in the Dibs editor, ready to change. Each line is a slot, and “x3” lets three people take it. Free, no ads, and guests don't need an account.

How we calculate

Each category needs a number of servings, and each person who signs up brings a set amount. Servings divided by what one dish feeds, rounded up, is the number of sign-ups.

  • KidsUnder 12 count as half an adult for food, and as a whole person for drinks, ice and cups.
  • Mains1 serving a person. One 9x13 pan, slow cooker or platter feeds about 10 when it sits next to other dishes.
  • Sides, desserts1 serving a person each. A 9x13 pan cut into 12, or 2 dozen cookies at 2 a person, covers 12.
  • Salads0.75 of a serving a person, because people take a little of a lot. A big bowl serves about 12.
  • Bread1.5 rolls a person, in packs of 24. That's under the Almanac's 2 for a sit-down meal, because a potluck plate has other starches on it.
  • Light mealEvery food line drops to 75% for brunch, an afternoon get-together or snacks.
  • Drinks1 eight-ounce drink a person an hour, the low end of the usual 1 to 2, since most hosts put out water too. One sign-up brings about 24.
  • Ice1 lb a person, 2 lb outdoors or in heat, in 20 lb sign-ups (two 10 lb bags).
  • Paper goods2 plates, 1 dessert plate, 2 cups and 3 napkins a person. One sign-up shops for up to 50 guests.
  • RoundingEvery count rounds up, and nothing drops below 1. Leftovers are easier to deal with than an empty table.

Sources, checked October 2026

  1. How much to cook when you cook for a crowd, Cooking for Crowds For Dummies (Dummies.com). Two to three 13x9 casseroles for 25 people; 1 to 2 brownies and 2 to 3 cookies a person; 1 to 2 eight-ounce soft drinks a person an hour.
  2. Party planner serving-size calculator, The Old Farmer's Almanac (Catherine Boeckmann, May 2026). Children typically eat half an adult portion; 2 rolls a person at a meal.
  3. “Danger Zone” (40°F–140°F), USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Don't leave perishable food out of the fridge for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
  4. Ice calculator, Reddy Ice. Plan 1 to 2 pounds of ice a person, depending on whether it chills drinks, food or both.
  5. Party tips: calculating your tableware needs, Smarty Had a Party. 1.5 to 2 dinner plates and 1 dessert plate a guest, 2 cups, 2 to 3 napkins.

Potluck math: questions

How much food do I need for a potluck of 50 people?

For a full meal with 50 adults, ask for 5 mains, 5 sides, 4 salads, 5 desserts and 7 drinks for 3 hours, plus 4 bread and 3 ice sign-ups. For 12 people it is 2 mains, 1 side, 1 salad and 1 dessert.

How many people does a 9x13 pan feed at a potluck?

About 10 as a main and 12 as a side or dessert, when it is one dish among many. On its own as the only main, plan on 8 to 10.

How long can potluck food sit out?

Two hours at room temperature, or one hour above 90°F, according to the USDA. After that, perishable food goes back in the fridge or gets thrown out. Ask people to bring cold dishes on ice and hot dishes in a slow cooker.

Should I count kids as full portions?

No. Children under about 12 eat roughly half an adult portion, so two kids count as one adult for food. Count them in full for cups, plates and drinks. They tend to use more of those, not less.

Potluck sign-up templates