How Much Ice Do I Need for a Party or Event?

The quick rule

• Drinks only: about 1 lb of ice per guest for a 3–4 hour party.
• Drinks + chilling cans and bottles in coolers: about 2 lb per guest.
• Full bar or cocktails + coolers: about 2.5 lb per guest.

Then adjust: add about 10% for every hour past four, and about 25% if you’re outdoors in South Florida heat. Ice in a cooler sitting in the sun on a 90° day goes fast.

Example

50 guests, 4 hours, outdoors, drinks plus coolers: 50 × 2 lb = 100 lb, plus 25% for the heat = 125 lb. Round up to 130 lb: three 40 lb bags and one 10 lb bag.

Try the ice calculator →

Coolers: how much ice per cooler?

For cans and bottles, a good target is about two parts ice to one part drinks by volume. Pre-chill the drinks if you can, and keep coolers in the shade. A full cooler holds cold much longer than a half-empty one.

Tips that save you a run to the store

• Keep the bar ice separate from the cooler ice. Ice that’s had cans in it shouldn’t go in drinks.
• Use cubed ice for drinks and crushed ice for chilling food and seafood displays.
• Don’t open coolers more than you need to, and drain melt water only when the drinks are covered.
• For long events, plan a mid-event restock instead of buying everything at once. We can schedule a second drop.