How much beer do I need for 40 guests?

You need 5 cases of beer for 40 guests at a corporate event. This provides 101 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a corporate event?

Plan for 2.5 servings of beer per person at a corporate event. This accounts for the fact that not everyone drinks alcohol and consumption naturally slows as the event progresses.

How many servings are in a case of beer?

One case of beer contains 24 servings. For 40 guests, you'll need 5 cases to provide 101 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a corporate event?

At a corporate event with 40 guests, approximately 30 guests (75%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 5 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 5 cases already includes a 15% buffer (0 extra cases). This ensures you won't run out even if some guests drink more than average. It's always better to have leftovers than to run short.

How long will 5 cases of beer last for 40 guests?

5 cases of beer will last approximately 3 hours for 40 guests at a corporate event. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

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How Much Beer for a 40 Guest Corporate Event?

You will need approx.

🍺

cases of beer

For a 40-guest corporate event lasting 3 hours

info 15% buffer included

101

Total servings

2.5

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

40 guests × 75% drinking rate

= 30 drinkers

At medium events, about 75% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

30 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 3 hours

= 135 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 3-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 2.65)

= 119 adjusted drinks

People drink faster in the first hour and slow down as the event progresses.

Apply corporate event modifier

× 0.85 (-15% for beer)

= 101 beer servings needed

Corporate Events typically consume 15% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

101 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 4.2 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

4.2 × 1.15 = 4.8, rounded up

= 5 cases

Always round up and add a buffer. Running out is worse than having leftovers!

✓ Why trust this formula?

Based on industry standards and refined by bartenders with 30+ years of experience. We factor in consumption decay (people drink less as events progress) and real-world drinking percentages.

📊 Quick Reference: Beer by Guest Count

Guests	Beer Needed	Total Servings
25 guests	4 cases	63 servings
50 guests	7 cases	126 servings
75 guests	10 cases	189 servings
100 guests	13 cases	253 servings
150 guests	19 cases	379 servings
200 guests	25 cases	505 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for corporate event.

The Essentials

🍺 5 cases Beer

60 lbs Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

3 coolers Coolers (2 cases per cooler) Buy

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The Host's Secret

Editorial Curation

ATMOSPHERE

"Most corporate guests self-limit to 2 drinks max - don't over-order."

Pro Tip #1

PREPARATION

"Wine outsells beer 3:1 at corporate events - flip your usual ratio."

Pro Tip #2

TIMING

"40% of corporate guests leave within 90 minutes - peak consumption is minutes 15-60."

Pro Tip #3

SERVICE

"Weekday events consume 35% less than Friday events."

Pro Tip #4

PRESENTATION

"Always have premium non-alcoholic options prominently displayed."

Pro Tip #5

🛒

Buying Guide

Focus on quality over quantity for corporate events. Stock premium wines and craft options rather than bulk quantities. Have elegant non-alcoholic options visible - many professionals choose not to drink at work functions. A sophisticated sparkling water with citrus is always appreciated.

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