Planners usually allow about 200–250 g (½ lb) of cooked boneless meat per adult; bones and shrinkage mean buying more raw weight.
How to use the Meat per Person Calculator
- Adults
- Children
- Cooked meat per adult
- Cut type
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Cooked portions are converted to raw weight by dividing by one minus the expected weight loss.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Adults | A number |
| Children | A number |
| Cooked meat per adult | Units: g, kg, lb |
| Cut type | Choose one: Boneless steaks, chicken breast (≈25% loss), Burgers, sausages (≈30% loss), Brisket, pork shoulder (≈45% loss), Bone-in chicken, ribs (≈50% loss) |
What each result means
- Cooked meat needed = [Adults]×[Cooked meat per adult] + [Children]×[Cooked meat per adult]÷2
- Raw meat to buy = [Cooked meat needed]÷(1 – [Cut type])
Example values
How the main result changes when Adults changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Adults | Raw meat to buy (kg) |
|---|---|
| 6 | 2.89 |
| 9 | 3.86 |
| 12 | 4.82 |
| 15 | 5.79 |
| 18 | 6.75 |
| 24 | 8.68 |
Formula
Raw meat = (adults × portion + kids × portion ÷ 2) ÷ (1 − loss)Worked example
Inputs — Adults: 12; Children: 6; Cooked meat per adult: 225 g; Cut type: Burgers, sausages (≈30% loss).
Results — Cooked meat needed = 3.38 kg; Raw meat to buy = 4.82 kg.
Frequently asked questions
Why does brisket need more?
It loses a lot of weight as fat renders and moisture evaporates during long cooking.
How much with lots of sides?
Reduce portions by about a quarter.
What formula does the Meat per Person Calculator use?
Raw meat = (adults × portion + kids × portion ÷ 2) ÷ (1 − loss).