# How Much Mashed Potatoes per Person Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/food/mashed-potatoes/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The mashed potatoes calculator works out how much mashed potato to make for your guests – and how many raw potatoes, how much milk or cream and how much butter you need – from the number of people and the portion size.

## Inputs

- Number of people
- Portion

## Results

- Mashed potatoes
- Mashed potato weight
- Raw potatoes to buy
- Medium potatoes (about 7 oz each)
- Milk or cream
- Butter

## Formula

```
Mashed potatoes = people × portion (¾–1 cup ≈ 160–210 g)
Peeled cooked potatoes ≈ mashed ÷ 1.35; raw unpeeled potatoes ≈ peeled ÷ 0.85
Milk ≈ 25% and butter ≈ 10% of the cooked potato weight
```

## Explanation

Starchy potatoes (Russet, Maris Piper) make the fluffiest mash; waxy potatoes make a creamier, denser one. A medium potato weighs about 170–200 g (6–7 oz). Warm the milk and butter before adding them.

### How to use the How Much Mashed Potatoes per Person Calculator

- **Number of people**
- **Portion**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter the number of people and the portion size.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterNumber of peopleA numberPortionChoose one: Small side (⅔ cup), Standard (⅞ cup), Hearty (1 cup), Very hearty (1¼ cups)

### What each result means

- **Mashed potatoes** = [Number of people]×[Portion]×236.5882365
- **Mashed potato weight** = [Number of people]×[Portion]×210
- **Raw potatoes to buy** = [Mashed potato weight]÷1.35÷0.85
- **Medium potatoes (about 7 oz each)** = ceil([Raw potatoes to buy]÷200)
- **Milk or cream** = [Mashed potato weight]÷1.35×0.25
- **Butter** = [Mashed potato weight]÷1.35×0.1

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Number of people** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Number of peopleRaw potatoes to buy (lb)51.87.52.6103.512.54.4155.3207.1

## Worked example

Inputs — Number of people: 10; Portion: Standard (⅞ cup).

Results — Mashed potatoes = 8.8 cups; Mashed potato weight = 4.1 lb; **Raw potatoes to buy = 3.5 lb**; Medium potatoes (about 7 oz each) = 9; Milk or cream = 1.44 cups; Butter = 136.1 g.

## FAQ

**How much mashed potato per person?**
About ¾–1 cup (6–8 oz) per adult as a side dish.

**How many potatoes for 10 people?**
About 3½–4 lb (1.6–1.8 kg) of raw potatoes.

**How much milk and butter for mashed potatoes?**
Roughly ¼ cup of milk and 1 tbsp of butter per medium potato.