Meat per Person Calculator
Plan how much meat to buy for a barbecue, party or holiday meal. Enter the number of adults and children, the meat and how hungry everyone is, and get the raw weight to buy after bone, trimming and cooking loss.
Children under about 12 count as half a portion
How to use the Meat per Person Calculator
- Enter the number of adults and children.
- Choose the meat you will serve.
- Pick the appetite level based on how many sides there are, or set your own cooked portion.
- Set the share if you serve more than one meat, and add extra for leftovers.
- Read the raw weight to buy and compare other meats in the table.
How the calculator works
- Portions = adults + children × 0.5
- Cooked meat = portions × cooked portion per adult × share of the meal × (1 + leftovers %)
- Raw meat to buy = cooked meat ÷ cooked yield
The yield is the share of the purchased weight that ends up on the plate after trimming, bones and cooking loss. It varies with the cut, the cooking method and how well done the meat is, so the figures below are typical planning values.
Typical cooked yields and raw amounts per adult
| Meat | Typical yield | Raw per adult for 1/3 lb cooked | Raw per adult for 1/2 lb cooked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisket (whole, smoked) | ~50% | 0.67 lb (300 g) | 1.0 lb (450 g) |
| Pork shoulder, bone-in | ~50% | 0.67 lb (300 g) | 1.0 lb (450 g) |
| Pork ribs | ~40% | 0.83 lb (380 g) | 1.25 lb (570 g) |
| Whole chicken | ~50% | 0.67 lb (300 g) | 1.0 lb (450 g) |
| Whole turkey | ~45% | 0.74 lb (340 g) | 1.1 lb (500 g) |
| Burgers, boneless steak | ~75% | 0.44 lb (200 g) | 0.67 lb (300 g) |
| Chicken breast, boneless | ~75% | 0.44 lb (200 g) | 0.67 lb (300 g) |
| Sausages / hot dogs | ~85% | 0.39 lb (180 g) | 0.59 lb (270 g) |
Food safety tip: keep hot food above 140 °F (60 °C) or refrigerate it within 2 hours, and cook meat to a safe internal temperature.
Frequently asked questions
How much meat per person should I plan?
A common rule is about 1/3 lb (150 g) of cooked meat per adult when there are several sides, and 1/2 lb (225 g) when meat is the main attraction. Children usually eat about half an adult portion.
How much raw brisket per person?
Smoked brisket typically loses about half its weight to trimming, fat rendering and moisture, so you need roughly 2/3 lb of raw brisket per adult for a 1/3 lb cooked serving, or about 1 lb raw for a 1/2 lb serving.
How much pulled pork per person?
Bone-in pork shoulder yields about 50% after cooking and removing the bone, so plan about 2/3 lb raw per adult for 1/3 lb of pulled pork. For 30 guests with a few sides that is roughly 20 lb raw.
How much turkey per person?
Plan about 1 to 1.5 lb of whole raw turkey per person, since only around 45% ends up as edible cooked meat. With 1/2 lb cooked per adult that is about 1.1 lb raw; buy more if you want leftovers.
Why is the raw weight so much more than the cooked weight?
Meat loses water and fat as it cooks (often 25–40%), and bone-in cuts also include bone you can't eat. The yield percentage combines both, which is why a bone-in shoulder needs twice its cooked weight in raw meat.
How do I plan for two or more meats?
Set the share of the meal for each meat, for example 50% brisket and 50% chicken, and run the calculator once per meat. People eat a little more in total when there is variety, so add 10% for leftovers.