Work out ice requirement for party instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Ice serves two purposes with very different quantities: about 350 g per bottle or can to chill in a tub, plus roughly 0.5 kg per guest for glasses over an evening. Hot weather increases both by 25-50% because melt losses dominate.
Ice requirement
chilling = units x 0.35 kg; serving = guests x 0.45 kg x hours x 0.4, both scaled by a temperature factor
Melting ice absorbs 334 kJ per kilogram, and cooling a warm bottle by 20 degrees takes a substantial fraction of that. Pre-chilling drinks in a fridge halves the ice needed.
Ice with cold water added. Water conducts heat far better than air gaps between cubes, so drinks chill in minutes rather than an hour.