How Many Appetizers for a Party?

For 100 guests, plan on 24 to 40 platters of appetizers, depending on the event, when appetizers are the main food at the party. That range runs from a birthday party at the low end to a holiday party at the high end, with platters built at 30 servings each. The published figures assume a cocktail-reception setup, where appetizers carry the meal at 8 servings per person, with a buffer already built in for guests who go back for seconds or trays that get picked over unevenly. If appetizers are served alongside a full dinner instead of standing in for the meal, the per-person count drops to 6 servings, since guests are filling up elsewhere too.

Passed trays tend to empty faster than a stationary table, so plan extra circulation time if a server works the room instead of letting guests help themselves. Appetizers are ordered by the platter rather than by the piece, so the table below gives an exact order for your event and guest count.