How much beer do I need for 125 guests?

You need 22 cases of beer for 125 guests at a wedding. This provides 443 total servings with a 15% buffer to ensure you don't run out.

How much beer per person for a wedding?

Plan for 3.5 servings of beer per person at a wedding. 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 125 guests, you'll need 22 cases to provide 443 total servings.

What percentage of guests will drink beer at a wedding?

At a wedding with 125 guests, approximately 88 guests (70%) will actively drink. Our formula accounts for this when calculating the 22 cases you need.

Should I buy extra beer as a buffer?

Yes! Our calculation of 22 cases already includes a 15% buffer (3 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 22 cases of beer last for 125 guests?

22 cases of beer will last approximately 5 hours for 125 guests at a wedding. This calculation factors in the natural slowdown of consumption as the event progresses.

Calculate a different drink for this event

🍷 Wine 🍺 Beer viewing 🥂 Champagne 🥃 Spirits

How Much Beer for a 125 Guest Wedding?

You will need approx.

🍺

cases of beer

For a 125-guest wedding lasting 5 hours

info 15% buffer included

443

Total servings

3.5

Per person

Buffer cases

How We Calculated This

Our bartender-tested formula, step by step

Estimate actual drinkers

125 guests × 70% drinking rate

= 88 drinkers

At large events, about 70% of guests typically drink alcohol.

Calculate base consumption

88 drinkers × 1.5 drinks/hour × 5 hours

= 660 base drinks

Industry standard is 1.5 drinks per person per hour for a 5-hour event.

Apply consumption decay

Adjusted for drinking slowdown over time (decay factor: 3.75)

= 495 adjusted drinks

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

Apply wedding modifier

× 0.9 (-10% for beer)

= 443 beer servings needed

Weddings typically consume 10% less beer than average.

Convert to cases

443 servings ÷ 24 servings per case

= 18.5 cases (raw)

Each case of beer provides 24 servings.

Add 15% buffer & round up

18.5 × 1.15 = 21.3, rounded up

= 22 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	5 cases	89 servings
50 guests	9 cases	177 servings
75 guests	14 cases	266 servings
100 guests	18 cases	354 servings
150 guests	27 cases	532 servings
200 guests	36 cases	709 servings

* All calculations include a 15% buffer. Amounts for wedding.

The Essentials

🍺 22 cases Beer

264 lbs Ice (Keep those beers cold!)

11 coolers Coolers (2 cases per cooler) Buy

Email Your Shopping List

We'll send your complete list plus pro tips for a stress-free event

No spam, unsubscribe anytime

The Host's Secret

Editorial Curation

ATMOSPHERE

"40% of all alcohol is consumed during cocktail hour - front-load your bar staff and ice."

Pro Tip #1

PREPARATION

"Offer 1-2 signature cocktails instead of a full bar to cut spirit costs by 40% and speed up service."

Pro Tip #2

TIMING

"Pre-pour wine at dinner tables 5 minutes before guests sit to prevent service bottlenecks."

Pro Tip #3

SERVICE

"Order 10-15% extra and ask vendors about their return policy on unopened bottles."

Pro Tip #4

PRESENTATION

"If dancing goes past 10pm, reopen a simplified bar: beer, wine, and 2 signature drinks only."

Pro Tip #5

🛒

Buying Guide

For weddings, plan a 60/40 split between red and white wine for fall/winter, or flip it for spring/summer. Budget $12-18 per bottle for a crowd-pleasing selection - guests can't tell the difference between $15 and $40 wine at a party. Consider having champagne for toasts separate from your open bar calculation.

Explore More Calculators

Find the perfect amounts for any event

More for your Wedding

Different guest count?

Other events (125 guests)

🎉

Planning a different event?

Use our free calculator for any combination of drinks, events, and guest counts.

Browse All 336 Calculators