Running out of ice mid-party is one of the most common mistakes — and one of the easiest to avoid. Use the table and calculator below to estimate how many kilos and bags of ice you need.
Quick rule
- Simple drinks (soft drinks, wine, beer): about 1 kg per person.
- With cocktails: 1.5 to 2 kg per person — cocktails use ice for mixing and in the glass.
- Summer or outdoors: add 30 to 50%.
- Events over 4 hours: add about 25 %.
These figures include ice for glasses and for chilling bottles in buckets or cool boxes.
Guide table
| Guests | Simple drinks | With cocktails | Cocktails in summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 20 kg | 30–40 kg | 40–60 kg |
| 50 | 50 kg | 75–100 kg | 100–150 kg |
| 100 | 100 kg | 150–200 kg | 200–300 kg |
| 200 | 200 kg | 300–400 kg | 400–600 kg |
Ice calculator
Which ice to choose
- Ice cubes for glasses, buckets and cool boxes — see cubes.
- Crushed ice if there are caipirinhas, mojitos or a seafood table — see crushed ice.
- Ice blocks to keep large cool boxes cold for many hours.
Tips to make ice last
- Keep bags in a freezer or in closed cool boxes, in the shade.
- Do not open all the bags at once — top up as you go.
- Chill the drinks before the event: then the ice keeps them cold instead of having to cool them down.
Need ice delivered? See ice for events and parties or buy online.
