Rex says
Everyday utility math — the kind you'd otherwise pull up four browser tabs for. I keep it to one clean answer.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Total drinks needed
96
Bottles of wine
7
Cases of beer (24-pack)
2
Bottles of liquor (750ml)
2
Psst — share this and help Rex grow
One click, a permanent link with your numbers baked in.
How to use this
- 1Enter number of guests.
- 2Enter party length (hrs).
- 3Enter % of guests who drink (%).
- 4Read your total drinks needed on the right — it updates as you type.
- 5Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Standard party planning assumes one drink per guest per hour for the first two hours, then tapering off, averaging about 1.5-2 drinks per guest for a typical 3-4 hour party. This calculator estimates total drinks needed and splits them proportionally across wine, beer, and liquor based on typical mixed-crowd preferences.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Number of guests: 40
- Party length: 4 hrs
- % of guests who drink: 80 %
Results
- Total drinks needed: 96
- Bottles of wine: 7
- Cases of beer (24-pack): 2
- Bottles of liquor (750ml): 2
What each field means
Inputs
- Number of guests
- The number of guests used in the calculation. Starts at 40 so you have a working example on load.
- Party length (hrs)
- The party length used in the calculation, measured in hrs. Starts at 4 hrs so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–12 hrs.
- % of guests who drink (%)
- The % of guests who drink used in the calculation, measured in %. Starts at 80 % so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 0–100 %.
Results
- Total drinks needed
- Returned as a whole number and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Bottles of wine
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Cases of beer (24-pack)
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Bottles of liquor (750ml)
- Returned as a whole number. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
How much alcohol do I need for a party?
For 40 guests (80% drinkers) over a 4 hours, plan for roughly 160 drinks — split across about 12 bottles of wine, 3 cases of beer, and 3 bottles of liquor for a typical mixed crowd.
Why does the rate taper after 2 hours?
Guests drink fastest in the first couple hours and then slow down, so a straight 'one drink per hour for the whole party' formula overestimates total consumption for longer events.
How many glasses are in a bottle of wine?
A standard 750ml bottle pours about 5 glasses at a standard 5 oz pour, which is the basis for converting total wine drinks into bottles to buy.
Should I plan for non-drinkers too?
Yes — budget separately for sparkling water, soda, and mocktails for the percentage of guests who don't drink alcohol, so nobody is stuck with just water.
Accuracy and limitations
- Estimates assume standard, average conditions — local rules, pricing, and materials vary.
- Results are rounded for readability; add a buffer before ordering, booking, or committing.
- Double-check anything with a real cost attached against a local quote.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). How Much Alcohol Do I Need for a Party?. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-alcohol-for-a-party
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-alcohol-for-a-party" target="_blank" rel="noopener">How Much Alcohol Do I Need for a Party? — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [How Much Alcohol Do I Need for a Party? — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/how-much-alcohol-for-a-party) (2026).