How much BBQ for 50 people?

For 50 guests, order about 37.5 lb of raw mixed barbecue cuts, which serves about 18.8 lb. That is roughly 3 full trays.

How much BBQ for 100 people?

For 100 guests, order about 75 lb of raw mixed barbecue cuts, which serves about 37.5 lb. That is roughly 6 full trays.

Catering portion guide

How much BBQ per person?

In short

For a mixed barbecue spread, plan about 6 oz of cooked meat per person in total across all meats. Since barbecue cuts yield roughly 50 percent, buy about 3/4 lb of raw meat per person, so 50 guests needs about 19 lb cooked from about 38 lb raw.

Buy more BBQ than you serve

Averaged across the usual barbecue cuts, brisket, pork shoulder and ribs, expect roughly 50 percent yield from raw to served.

Planning factor: 2x. For every 1 lb you want to serve, order about 2 lb of raw mixed barbecue cuts.

How much BBQ for 10 to 100 people

Order is what to buy as raw mixed barbecue cuts. Serves is what reaches the plate after trim and cooking.

BBQ quantities by guest count, showing purchase weight and served weight
Guests	Order	Serves	Trays
6	4.5 lb	2.3 lb	1 half tray
10	7.5 lb	3.8 lb	1 full tray
12	9 lb	4.5 lb	1 full tray
15	11.3 lb	5.6 lb	1 full tray
20	15 lb	7.5 lb	1 full + 1 half trays
25	18.8 lb	9.4 lb	1 full + 1 half trays
30	22.5 lb	11.3 lb	2 full trays
40	30 lb	15 lb	2 full + 1 half trays
50	37.5 lb	18.8 lb	3 full trays
60	45 lb	22.5 lb	3 full + 1 half trays
75	56.3 lb	28.1 lb	4 full + 1 half trays
100	75 lb	37.5 lb	6 full trays

These are standard food-service planning figures, not fixed constants. Real yield moves with cut, trim level, cooking method, and how long the food is held. Weigh your own results once and adjust the factor to your kitchen.

Things that change the number

Offering three or more meats raises total consumption slightly, because guests sample rather than choose.
Ribs are counted by the bone rather than by weight, typically 3 to 4 bones per person.
Heavy sides pull meat consumption down, so a spread with mac and cheese plus beans needs less meat.

Common questions

How much BBQ per person?: For a mixed barbecue spread, plan about 6 oz of cooked meat per person in total across all meats. Since barbecue cuts yield roughly 50 percent, buy about 3/4 lb of raw meat per person, so 50 guests needs about 19 lb cooked from about 38 lb raw.
How much BBQ for 50 people?: For 50 guests, order about 37.5 lb of raw mixed barbecue cuts, which serves about 18.8 lb. That is roughly 3 full trays.
How much BBQ for 100 people?: For 100 guests, order about 75 lb of raw mixed barbecue cuts, which serves about 37.5 lb. That is roughly 6 full trays.

Working out a whole menu, not one dish?

The catering food calculator takes your actual dish list and guest count and returns quantities, tray counts, and a cost range for the whole event.

Open the catering food calculator