Wedding Alcohol Calculator
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Estimate drinks and bottles needed for an open bar from guest count and reception length.
Guests & bar hours
Bottles needed
99
≈ 500 total drinks
- Total drinks
- 500
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Estimating alcohol for a reception
Total drinks needed is roughly guest count × drinks per guest per hour × number of hours the bar is open. One drink per guest per hour is a commonly used industry planning average for a mixed reception (accounting for non-drinkers and varied paces), though it can run higher for cocktail-hour-heavy events.
To convert total drinks into bottles, this calculator uses a standard 5 oz pour and a 25.4 oz (750 ml) bottle by default — adjust either if your bar service uses different pour sizes or bottle formats (magnums, etc.).
Example: 100 guests over a 5-hour reception at 1 drink/guest/hour comes to 500 total drinks, which works out to about 99 standard 750 ml bottles at a 5 oz pour — always round up and keep a little extra buffer, since running out mid-reception isn't recoverable.
Common questions
Is 1 drink per guest per hour accurate for every wedding?
It's a reasonable planning average, but actual consumption varies with guest demographics, event style, and how long cocktail hour runs. Treat this as a starting estimate and round up.
Should I buy exactly the estimated amount?
No — most caterers and liquor stores allow returns on unopened bottles, so it's safer to order slightly more than this estimate rather than risk running short.