Wedding Alcohol Calculator
Planning the bar is one of the biggest logistical decisions for any wedding. This calculator uses your guest count, reception length, and drinking profile to work out exactly how many bottles of wine, cases of beer, bottles of spirits, and champagne bottles you need. It also gives an estimated budget and a full per-type breakdown so you can hand the list straight to your vendor.
How much alcohol do you need for a wedding?
The most reliable starting point is one drink per guest per hour of bar service. For a 5-hour evening reception with 100 guests and an average-drinking crowd, that means 500 drinks before you add any buffer. In practice, planners add a 10-15% safety buffer to cover spillage, breakage, and guests who drink more than the average. The type of bar you offer changes the mix dramatically: a full bar sends roughly half the demand to spirits and splits the rest between wine and beer, while a beer-and-wine bar divides demand equally between those two.
Choosing your bar style and drink ratios
A full open bar is the most flexible option and the most expensive, because spirits are the costliest to stock. The typical ratio for a full bar is 50% spirits, 25% wine, and 25% beer. A beer-and-wine bar saves money and works well for afternoon or outdoor weddings. For wine, split roughly evenly between red and white, or lean toward white in summer and red in cooler months. If you are offering a champagne toast, budget one 750 ml bottle per 6 guests on top of your regular bar stock. Many couples also add one or two signature cocktails, which can reduce spirits variety without cutting total quantity.
How drinking profile affects your order
Not every crowd drinks the same way. A daytime garden wedding with many older guests and non-drinkers skews light (around 0.75 drinks per person per hour). An evening club-style reception with a younger crowd can easily reach 1.5 drinks per hour. When in doubt, use the average setting and add the 10% buffer: you will likely come close, and most venues allow you to return sealed cases for a refund. Always confirm the return policy before you buy. A light drinker profile for 100 guests over 5 hours means about 375 drinks; a heavy profile for the same wedding means about 750 drinks - double the quantity and cost.
Estimating costs and managing your budget
The cost estimate in this calculator uses average US retail prices: roughly $12 per bottle of wine, $25 per bottle of spirits, $1.50 per beer, and $18 per bottle of champagne. Your actual cost will depend on the brands you choose, whether you use a caterer or buy retail, and any corkage fee the venue charges for self-supplied wine. Buying by the case (12 bottles for wine, 24 cans for beer) almost always comes with a 10-15% discount. For spirits, plan on one 750 ml bottle of vodka or gin for every 17 cocktails; a half-keg of beer holds about 165 twelve-ounce pours and can replace roughly 7 cases of cans at a lower per-drink cost if your venue has draft service.
Bottle size and servings reference
| Drink type | Bottle size | Standard pour | Servings per bottle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wine (still) | 750 ml | 5 oz | 5 |
| Wine (still) | 1.5 L (magnum) | 5 oz | 10 |
| Champagne / sparkling wine | 750 ml | 4 oz | 6 |
| Spirits (vodka, whiskey, gin, rum) | 750 ml | 1.5 oz | 17 |
| Spirits | 1 L | 1.5 oz | 22 |
| Beer (can or bottle) | 12 oz | 12 oz | 1 |
| Beer (keg, half-barrel) | 15.5 gal | 12 oz | 165 |
| Beer (keg, quarter-barrel) | 7.75 gal | 12 oz | 82 |
Standard servings at typical pour sizes. Use this to cross-check quantities from your vendor or venue.
Frequently asked questions
How much alcohol do I need per person for a 4-hour wedding?
Plan for one drink per guest per hour as a baseline. For a 4-hour reception with 100 guests at average drinking pace, that is 400 drinks before the safety buffer. Add 10% and you get 440 drinks. Split for a full bar: about 110 beer, 110 glasses of wine (22 bottles), and 220 cocktails (roughly 13 bottles of spirits).
How many bottles of wine do I need for 100 guests?
If wine is the only drink for a 5-hour reception at one drink per hour, 100 guests need 500 glasses. At 5 pours per 750 ml bottle, that is 100 bottles (50 red + 50 white) before any buffer. For a full bar with wine at 25% of drinks, the same wedding needs about 25 wine bottles.
Should I offer a champagne toast?
A champagne toast adds roughly one 750 ml bottle per 6 guests. For 100 guests that is about 17 bottles, or around $300 at retail. It is a classic touch but not required - sparkling wine or prosecco can cut the cost in half, and many couples skip the separate toast pour and let guests use their current drink instead.
What is the standard wine pour size at a wedding?
A standard restaurant pour is 5 oz from a 750 ml bottle, giving 5 glasses per bottle. Some caterers pour 6 oz per glass (about 4 per bottle). If your caterer uses a heavier pour, divide your required glasses by 4 instead of 5 to get your bottle count.
How many drinks does a bottle of spirits serve?
A 750 ml bottle of spirits at a standard 1.5 oz cocktail pour gives about 17 cocktails. A 1 litre bottle gives about 22 cocktails. For a well-stocked full bar you will typically offer vodka, gin, rum, tequila, and whiskey - plan to spread your spirits budget across 3-5 types depending on your guest list.
Can I return unopened bottles after the wedding?
Many retailers and warehouse clubs allow case returns on unopened bottles with a receipt, but policies vary. Confirm before you buy. This is the main reason to buy a little extra rather than cutting it close - you can return the surplus rather than running dry at the end of the night.
Is a beer keg cheaper than buying bottles or cans?
A half-barrel keg holds about 165 twelve-ounce pours. If canned beer costs $36 per 24-pack, 165 cans would cost around $247. A keg of the same brand often costs $100-$180, making it significantly cheaper per pour. The catch is you need a kegerator or a venue with draft service, and you typically pay a deposit on the keg.