Work out buffet quantity planning instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Total food is guests times grams per guest with a contingency added, then split evenly across the number of dishes on offer. Buffet planning fails on the per-dish split rather than the total: more dishes means each is taken in smaller amounts, but the total eaten barely changes.
Total quantity
total grams = guests x grams per guest x (1 + contingency)
Per dish
per dish = total / number of dishes
total grams = guests x grams per guest x (1 + contingency). Total food is guests times grams per guest with a contingency added, then split evenly across the number of dishes on offer.
Buffet planning fails on the per-dish split rather than the total: more dishes means each is taken in smaller amounts, but the total eaten barely changes.
Enter number of guests, food per guest, number of dishes, contingency allowance. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.