BBQ Per Person Calculator

How this works

This is a general planning tool for a barbecue with multiple meats (brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, etc. combined), rather than a single specific cut. Standard catering guidance is about 1/2 pound of cooked meat per person for a lighter spread, up to 3/4 pound per person for a hearty one, split across whatever meats you're serving. Raw purchase weight is estimated using a typical average 30% cooking shrinkage across smoked and grilled barbecue meats — use one of the specific per-person calculators (brisket, pulled pork, ribs) for a more precise number on any single cut.

Source: Based on general barbecue-catering guidance widely used by event caterers of about 1/2 to 3/4 pound of cooked meat per person when serving a mixed barbecue spread.