Wedding alcohol calculator
Enter your guest count and bar hours. See how much wine, beer, and liquor to buy, with the math shown below.
Estimate your wedding alcohol
What to buy
600 drinksAbout 6 per guest
| Drink | Servings | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Wine | 300 glasses (5 oz) | 60 bottles 750 ml · 5 cases of 12 |
| Beer | 180 cans or bottles (12 oz) | 8 cases 24 per case |
| Liquor | 120 shots (1.5 oz) | 8 bottles 750 ml, or 4 × 1.75 l |
Add the prices you were quoted to see the alcohol cost.
Bottles and cases are rounded up. This does not include mixers, ice, soft drinks, bartenders, glassware, tax, or venue fees.
Quick answers
How much alcohol for 50 to 200 guests
These rows use the calculator's starting assumptions: a 5-hour bar, two drinks per guest in the first hour and one per hour after, and a mix of 50% wine, 30% beer, and 20% liquor. Guests means guests who drink.
| Guests | Drinks | Wine bottles | Beer cases | Liquor bottles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 300 | 30 | 4 | 4 |
| 75 | 450 | 45 | 6 | 6 |
| 100 | 600 | 60 | 8 | 8 |
| 150 | 900 | 90 | 12 | 12 |
| 200 | 1,200 | 120 | 15 | 15 |
The calculation method
Every bottle comes from a few numbers.
Guests × drinks per guest per hour × bar hours = drinks, with the first hour counted twice if you choose
- Split the drinks by your mix of wine, beer, and liquor. The parts always add up to the total.
- Use standard pours: a 5-ounce glass of wine, a 12-ounce beer, and a 1.5-ounce shot. These are the US standard drink sizes listed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
- Convert to bottles: a 750 ml bottle holds about 25 ounces, so 5 glasses of wine or 16 shots. A 1.75 liter bottle holds 39 shots. A case of beer holds 24.
- Round up every bottle and case, so a partial bottle is bought as a whole one.
The pace comes from a bartender planning rule reported by Zola: two drinks per guest in the first hour, then one per hour. You can turn off the first-hour step or change the pace. The 50/30/20 mix is our own starting assumption. Larger pours mean more bottles.
What this estimate leaves out
- Mixers, garnishes, soft drinks, water, and ice.
- Bartenders, glassware, and bar rentals.
- Sales tax, delivery, and any outside-alcohol fee from your venue.
Before you buy
- Ask your venue whether you can bring your own alcohol and what it charges.
- Ask whether a licensed bartender or insurance is required.
- Ask your store whether unopened bottles can be returned.
Read the open bar cost guide or compare venue quotes with bar packages.
Questions about wedding alcohol
How much alcohol do I need for a wedding of 100 guests?
With 100 drinking guests and a 5-hour bar, plan for about 600 drinks: two per guest in the first hour, then one per hour after. With half wine, 30% beer, and 20% liquor, that is 60 bottles of wine, 8 cases of beer, and 8 bottles of liquor (750 ml). Change the guest count, hours, or mix in the calculator to match your bar.
How many drinks per guest per hour should I plan for?
Zola reports that bartenders commonly plan for two drinks per guest in the first hour, then one drink per hour after that. This calculator uses that rule by default. It is a planning assumption, not a measured rate. Lower it for a daytime reception or a crowd with many light drinkers, and raise it if your guests drink more. Your caterer or bartender may suggest a number from events they have served.
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?
A standard 750 ml bottle holds about 25 ounces. That is 5 glasses at the 5-ounce pour used for a US standard drink. A 750 ml bottle of liquor holds 16 shots of 1.5 ounces, and a 1.75 liter bottle holds 39.
How much champagne do I need for a toast?
This calculator counts 6 toast pours of about 4 ounces per 750 ml bottle of sparkling wine, one pour per drinking guest. For 100 guests, that is 17 bottles.
Should I count guests who don't drink?
No. Enter only guests of legal drinking age who will drink. Leave out children and guests you know will not drink. If you are not sure about a guest, counting them gives you a small buffer.
Does this include the cost of an open bar?
It estimates the alcohol you buy yourself. A venue or caterer usually prices a bar package per guest, per hour, or by what guests drink, and may add bartenders, a service charge, and tax. Ask whether the venue allows outside alcohol and what it charges for it before you buy.
Method updated October 13, 2026. Report a calculation problem.