Party Planner
How much charcuterie do I need?
Plan about 2 oz of cured meat and 2 oz of cheese per guest when a meal follows, 3 oz of each when the board is the party food, and 4 oz of each when it's dinner. Add 10% from 20 guests up.
Work it out for your party
Quick chart: how much for 4 to 100 guests
| Guests | Meat | Cheese | Crackers | Setup | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 8 oz | 8 oz | 24–32 | One 12–14 inch board | For 4 → |
| 6 | 12 oz | 1 lb | 36–48 | One 12–14 inch board | For 6 → |
| 8 | 1 lb | 1 lb | 48–64 | One 16–18 inch board | For 8 → |
| 10 | 1¼ lb | 1½ lb | 60–80 | One 16–18 inch board | For 10 → |
| 12 | 1½ lb | 1½ lb | 72–96 | One large 22–28 inch board | For 12 → |
| 15 | 2 lb | 2 lb | 90–120 | One large 22–28 inch board | For 15 → |
| 20 | 2¾ lb | 3 lb | 120–160 | Two boards, or two stations on one table | For 20 → |
| 25 | 3½ lb | 3½ lb | 150–200 | Two boards, or two stations on one table | For 25 → |
| 30 | 4¼ lb | 4½ lb | 180–240 | Two boards, or two stations on one table | For 30 → |
| 40 | 5½ lb | 5½ lb | 240–320 | A grazing table, or three stations | For 40 → |
| 50 | 7 lb | 7 lb | 300–400 | A grazing table, or three stations | For 50 → |
| 100 | 14 lb | 14 lb | 600–800 | A grazing table in four stations, refilled from the fridge | For 100 → |
Appetizer amounts (a meal follows). For a party with no meal, multiply meat and cheese by 1.5; if the board is dinner, double them. Each guest-count page has all three.
Plan by guest count
- 4 people8 oz meat · 8 oz cheeseBuild: Valentine's Day Board
- 6 people12 oz meat · 1 lb cheeseBuild: $25 Budget Board
- 8 people1 lb meat · 1 lb cheeseBuild: Classic American Starter Board
- 10 people1¼ lb meat · 1½ lb cheeseBuild: Classic American Starter Board
- 12 people1½ lb meat · 1½ lb cheeseBuild: Holiday Entertaining Board
- 15 people2 lb meat · 2 lb cheeseBuild: Holiday Entertaining Board
- 20 people4¼ lb meat · 4½ lb cheeseBuild: Office Party Board
- 25 people5¼ lb meat · 5½ lb cheeseBuild: Office Party Board
- 30 people6¼ lb meat · 6½ lb cheeseBuild: Showstopper Grand Board
- 40 people8¼ lb meat · 8½ lb cheeseBuild: Showstopper Grand Board
- 50 people10½ lb meat · 10½ lb cheeseBuild: Showstopper Grand Board
- 100 people20¾ lb meat · 21 lb cheeseBuild: Showstopper Grand Board
Just two of you? See the board for two.
The rules behind the numbers
| Per guest | Appetizer | Party spread | Meal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cured meat | 2 oz | 3 oz | 4 oz |
| Cheese | 2 oz | 3 oz | 4 oz |
| Crackers or bread | 6–8 | 10–12 | 12–15 |
| Fruit | 2 oz | 3 oz | 4 oz |
| Nuts | 0.5 oz | 1 oz | 1 oz |
| Olives and pickles | 1 oz | 1.5 oz | 2 oz |
- Add 10% from 20 guests up. Crowds eat unevenly and the favorites run out first.
- Spreads go by count, not per person: 2 up to 10 guests, 3 up to 25, then 4 or 5.
- More guests, a few more kinds: 3 cheeses and 2 meats up to 8 guests; 5 or 6 cheeses in bigger pieces for a crowd.
- Two boards beat one crowded board from about 20 guests. From 40, set up a grazing table in stations.
- Two hours out, then refill. Perishable food shouldn't sit out longer (USDA).
More detail: how much charcuterie per person, how much cheese, board sizes, grazing tables.
Planning for an occasion?
Office party · Cocktail party · Game day · Thanksgiving · Christmas · New Year's Eve · All boards
Questions
How much charcuterie per person?
About 2 oz of meat and 2 oz of cheese per person before a meal, 3 oz of each when the board is the party food, and 4 oz of each when it's dinner. Add 10% from 20 guests up.
How many crackers per person?
6–8 as an appetizer, 10–12 as the party food, 12–15 as a meal.
How many cheeses should I serve?
Three for up to 8 guests, three or four up to 15, four or five up to 30, and five or six in bigger amounts for a crowd. More kinds doesn't mean more food; it means smaller pieces of each.
How long can a charcuterie board sit out?
No more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F, per USDA guidance for perishable food. For a long party, keep a refill tray in the fridge.
