How much food does a potluck need?

A potluck runs on a simple rule: every household brings one dish that serves about eight. That gives you plenty without a mountain of leftovers. The split below is what Plateful suggests when you tell it how many people are coming.

For 10 people

For 20 people

For 30 people

For 50 people

Rules of thumb

• One main for every eight people
• One side for every six. Sides are what people like bringing most, so they fill first.
• One salad for every ten
• One dessert for every eight
• One loaf of bread for every fifteen
• One drinks run for every ten, plus ice
• One person on plates, cups and napkins

Let people sign up for these numbers instead of guessing. Make a potluck sheet, set the headcount, and it fills in the counts.