BBQ Cookout Shopping List by Guest Count
Print this sheet and shop with confidence. Quantities scale automatically across 6, 12, and 20+ guests for mains, buns, sides, condiments, drinks, ice, fuel, and supplies. Lb with kg parens; black-and-white printer friendly.
Pair with the Smoker Size for Family Calculator to size the cook, the Propane vs Charcoal vs Pellet Cost Calculator to compare fuel cost, and the Meat Smoking Temperature & Time Reference printable for internal temp targets.
BBQ Cookout Shopping List by Guest Count
Quantities cover a 3-to-4 hour cookout. Pre-filled columns assume mixed adult-and-teen groups; for kid-heavy parties, scale down meat by about 30 percent. Lb shown with kg in parens. Round up to the next full package size where applicable.
Per-guest planning rules (quick reference)
| Item | Per adult | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bone-in smoked/grilled meat (brisket, ribs, shoulder) | 0.5 lb (225 g) raw | Yields ~0.3 lb (135 g) cooked |
| Boneless meat (burgers, sausages, boneless chicken) | 0.4 lb (180 g) raw | Yields ~0.3 lb (135 g) cooked |
| Bone-in chicken or whole bird | 0.75 lb (340 g) raw | Bones + skin reduce edible yield |
| Buns or rolls | 1.25 to 2 | Round up to next full package |
| Each side dish | 3 to 4 oz (85 to 115 g) | Mix 3 to 4 sides total |
| Drinks (3 hr cookout) | 3 to 4 servings | ~60% beer/wine, 30% soft, 10% water |
| Ice (3 hr cookout) | 1 to 2 lb (0.5 to 1 kg) | Scale to 2 to 3 lb in hot weather |
| Plates, cutlery sets, cups | 1.5, 1.5, 3 | Heavy paper or compostable |
| Napkins | 4 | BBQ is messy, do not skimp |
Kids 12 and under count as 0.5 adult for meat and drinks. Teens count as 1.25. Add 30 percent for hungry crowds, 50 percent for leftover-friendly buffers.
Mains
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brisket (whole packer, raw) | 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 16 lb (7.3 kg) | |
| Pork shoulder / Boston butt (raw) | 4 lb (1.8 kg) | 8 lb (3.6 kg) | 13 lb (5.9 kg) | |
| Pork ribs (spare or baby-back, racks) | 2 racks | 4 racks | 7 racks | |
| Burgers (1/4 lb / 115 g patties) | 9 patties | 18 patties | 30 patties | |
| Hot dogs or bratwurst (links) | 9 links | 18 links | 30 links | |
| Chicken thighs or drumsticks (raw) | 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 9 lb (4.1 kg) | 15 lb (6.8 kg) | |
| Whole chicken or turkey (raw) | 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 15 lb (6.8 kg) | |
| Salmon fillet (raw) | 2 lb (0.9 kg) | 4 lb (1.8 kg) | 6 lb (2.7 kg) | |
| Vegetarian option (portobello, skewers) | 2 portions | 3 portions | 5 portions |
Buns & bread
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburger buns | 8 (1 pack) | 16 (2 packs) | 32 (4 packs) | |
| Hot dog buns | 8 (1 pack) | 16 (2 packs) | 32 (4 packs) | |
| Slider rolls (for pulled pork) | 12 (1 pack) | 24 (2 packs) | 40 (4 packs) | |
| Texas toast or garlic bread (slices) | 12 | 24 | 40 | |
| Sandwich bread (for brisket sandwiches) | 1 loaf | 1 to 2 loaves | 2 to 3 loaves |
Sides (pick 3 to 4)
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleslaw (prep or store-bought) | 1 lb (450 g) | 2 lb (900 g) | 4 lb (1.8 kg) | |
| Potato salad | 1.5 lb (680 g) | 3 lb (1.4 kg) | 5 lb (2.3 kg) | |
| Baked beans | 1.5 lb (680 g) | 3 lb (1.4 kg) | 5 lb (2.3 kg) | |
| Corn on the cob (ears) | 9 ears | 18 ears | 30 ears | |
| Macaroni or pasta salad | 1.5 lb (680 g) | 3 lb (1.4 kg) | 5 lb (2.3 kg) | |
| Chips (party size bags) | 1 bag | 2 bags | 3 to 4 bags | |
| Salad greens (mixed) | 1 lb (450 g) | 2 lb (900 g) | 3 lb (1.4 kg) | |
| Watermelon (whole) | 1/2 melon | 1 melon | 2 melons |
Condiments & sauces
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBQ sauce (bottles) | 1 bottle | 1 to 2 bottles | 2 to 3 bottles | |
| Ketchup | 1 bottle | 1 bottle | 2 bottles | |
| Mustard (yellow + Dijon) | 1 small each | 1 medium each | 1 large each | |
| Mayonnaise | 1 small jar | 1 medium jar | 1 large jar | |
| Pickles (jar) | 1 jar | 1 jar large | 2 jars large | |
| Hot sauce | 1 bottle | 1 bottle | 1 to 2 bottles | |
| Sliced cheese (for burgers) | 9 slices | 18 slices | 30 slices | |
| Lettuce, tomato, onion (burger fixings) | 1 set | 2 sets | 3 sets | |
| Salt + pepper (shakers on table) | 1 set | 1 set | 2 sets |
Drinks & ice
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beer (cans or bottles) | 12 (half case) | 24 (1 case) | 40 (2 cases) | |
| Wine (bottles) | 1 to 2 bottles | 2 to 3 bottles | 4 to 5 bottles | |
| Soft drinks (cans, mixed) | 12 | 24 | 40 | |
| Bottled water (or pitcher) | 1 case (12) | 1 case (24) | 2 cases (40) | |
| Juice or kids drink boxes | 6 | 12 | 20 | |
| Ice (lb) | 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 20 lb (9 kg) | 35 lb (16 kg) | |
| Cooler (size) | 30 to 40 qt | 54 to 70 qt | 2 large coolers | |
| Lemons/limes (for drinks) | 3 | 6 | 10 |
Fuel
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Propane 20 lb / 9 kg tank (always reserve a spare) | 1 full + 1 spare | 1 full + 1 spare | 2 tanks total | |
| Charcoal briquettes or lump (16 lb / 7.3 kg bags) | 1 bag | 1 to 2 bags | 2 to 3 bags | |
| Hardwood pellets (20 lb / 9 kg bags) | 1 bag | 1 to 2 bags | 2 to 3 bags | |
| Wood chunks for flavor (per bag) | 1 bag | 1 bag | 2 bags | |
| Fire starters (cubes or chimney) | 1 box / 1 chimney | 1 box | 1 box | |
| Lighter or matches | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Canada price guide: a 20 lb (9 kg) propane tank exchange runs about CAD 28 to 35 (refills at independent stations are cheaper); a 16 lb (7.3 kg) charcoal bag about CAD 25 to 35; a 20 lb (9 kg) pellet bag about CAD 20 to 30 at Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, or Co-op.
Supplies
| Item | 6 guests | 12 guests | 20+ guests | Got it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plates (heavy paper or compostable) | 10 | 20 | 32 | |
| Cutlery sets (fork, knife, spoon) | 10 sets | 20 sets | 32 sets | |
| Cups (cold drinks) | 18 | 36 | 60 | |
| Cups (hot or red Solo) | 12 | 24 | 40 | |
| Napkins or paper towels | 25 | 50 | 80 | |
| Trash bags (33 gal heavy-duty) | 2 | 3 | 4 to 5 | |
| Aluminum foil (heavy-duty roll) | 1 roll | 1 roll | 2 rolls | |
| Serving platters and bowls | 3 to 4 | 5 to 6 | 7 to 8 | |
| Tongs, spatula, grill brush | 1 each | 1 each | 2 each | |
| Instant-read thermometer | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Cutting board (for resting and slicing) | 1 | 1 to 2 | 2 | |
| Carving knife (sharp) | 1 | 1 | 1 to 2 | |
| Sturdy table for serving | 1 | 1 to 2 | 2 to 3 |
Cookout day checklist (countdown)
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 days before: shop dry goods, drinks, fuel, supplies | |
| 1 day before: shop meat and produce; trim and season cuts; prep sides that hold | |
| Morning of: pull meat from fridge 30 min before lighting smoker; ice down coolers | |
| Light smoker; stabilize at 225 F (107 C) for 20 min before loading | |
| Load meat; insert leave-in probe into largest cut | |
| 1 hr before guests: set out condiments, plates, cutlery, napkins, drinks | |
| 30 min before guests: rest meat in faux-Cambro (cooler with towels) | |
| Slice and serve; refill drinks as needed | |
| After: pack leftovers in 2 hr (FDA guideline); refrigerate or freeze immediately |
Notes & observations
Frequently Asked Questions
How much meat per person should I plan for a BBQ?
For smoked or grilled meat with bones (brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, beef): plan 0.5 lb (225 g) raw weight per adult, which yields about 0.3 lb (135 g) cooked after rendering and trimming. For boneless cuts (burgers, sausages, chicken breasts) plan 0.4 lb (180 g) raw per adult. For chicken and turkey on the bone, plan 0.75 lb (340 g) raw per adult since bones and skin reduce edible yield further. Kids 12 and under count as 0.5 adult; teens count as 1.25. Add 30 percent for hungry crowds, 50 percent if you want leftovers.
How much ice does a cookout need?
Plan 1 to 2 lb (0.5 to 1 kg) of ice per guest for a 3 to 4 hour cookout. In hot weather (above 85 F / 29 C) or for longer events, scale to 2 to 3 lb (1 to 1.4 kg) per guest. A 6-guest cookout needs about 8 to 12 lb; 12 guests needs 16 to 24 lb; 20 guests needs 30 to 40 lb. Cooler size matters too; you cannot fit 40 lb of ice in a 20 quart cooler with the drinks. Use a separate ice cooler for refills if the drinks cooler will fill up.
How many buns and rolls per person?
Hamburger or hot dog buns: 1.25 per adult (assume some will eat 2). Slider rolls: 2 per adult. Texas toast or garlic bread slices: 2 per adult. Always round up to the next full package since buns sell in 6, 8, or 12 packs. For 6 guests: 1 pack of 8 buns. For 12 guests: 2 packs of 8 (or 1 pack of 16). For 20 guests: 3 to 4 packs of 8. Day-old buns toast better; buy a day ahead if your store has fresh-baked daily.
What about the cookout fuel itself?
For a 3-hour cookout: charcoal grillers need about 1 standard 16 lb (7.3 kg) bag of briquettes or lump for small-to-medium cooks (6 to 12 guests), 2 bags for large cooks (20+). Pellet grillers need 1 to 2 standard 20 lb (9 kg) bags. Propane grillers should always have 1 full backup 20 lb (9 kg) tank in reserve; a typical refill lasts 16 to 18 hours of grilling. The Propane vs Charcoal vs Pellet Cost Calculator does the math by your cooks per month and hours per cook.
How much do drinks scale with guest count?
Plan about 2 drinks per adult for the first 2 hours, plus 1 drink per adult for each additional hour. So a 3-hour cookout for 12 adults needs about 36 drinks total. Split that as roughly 60 percent beer or wine, 30 percent soft drinks, 10 percent water and non-alcoholic options. Kids under 13 need about 2 to 3 servings each of juice, water, or soft drink. Always over-buy by 20 percent for hot weather; unopened drinks return cleanly the next week.