Planning a party, family gathering, braai or large event usually comes with one important question: how much meat do you need per person?

As a general starting point, you can plan for around 250g to 350g of boneless meat per adult when meat is the main part of the meal and several side dishes are being served. You may need more for generous portions, fewer sides or bone-in cuts.

The right amount ultimately depends on your guests, menu and the type of meat you’re serving. Here’s a practical guide to help you plan your order without buying far too much or running short.

How Much Meat Should You Plan Per Person?

For many events, these quantities provide a useful starting point:

Guest	Suggested Meat Quantity
Adult	250g–350g
Adult with a larger appetite	350g–450g
Child	150g–200g

These amounts are guidelines rather than strict rules. Your event may require more or less depending on the menu.

If you’re serving several types of meat, the quantity refers to the combined amount of meat per person, not the amount needed for each variety.

For example, you don’t need 300g of beef plus 300g of chicken and 300g of boerewors for every guest. Instead, you could divide your planned portion between the different meats.

How Much Meat Do You Need for 10, 20, 50 or 100 People?

Using approximately 300g of boneless meat per adult as a simple planning figure gives you:

Number of People	Approximate Meat Needed
10	3kg
20	6kg
30	9kg
50	15kg
75	22.5kg
100	30kg

These figures work best as a starting point when you’re serving meat alongside sides such as pap, salads, rolls, potatoes, rice or vegetables.

For events where meat is the main attraction or guests are likely to eat larger portions, consider increasing the quantity.

Consider Bone-In vs Boneless Meat

Not every kilogram of meat provides the same amount of edible meat.

Bone-in cuts such as ribs, certain lamb cuts and some chicken portions contain weight that won’t be eaten. You may therefore need to order more than you would when serving boneless cuts.

For example, 5kg of chicken breasts provides a different amount of edible meat than 5kg of bone-in chicken portions.

Keep this in mind when calculating quantities for a large event.

How Much Meat Do You Need for a Braai?

For a braai with several meat options and sides, 300g to 400g of meat per adult can be a practical starting point.

Instead of serving one large portion of a single meat, offer a mixture.

For example, your braai selection could include:

• Boerewors
• Beef
• Chicken wings or drumsticks
• Pork sausage
• Lamb cuts

For 20 adults, planning around 350g each would mean approximately 7kg of meat in total.

You could then divide that 7kg across several meat types rather than buying 7kg of each.

How Should You Split Different Types of Meat?

There’s no universal combination because every group has different preferences. However, variety can make catering for a larger group easier.

For example, if you need approximately 15kg of meat for 50 people, your order might be divided between:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Boerewors
• Pork
• Lamb

You don’t necessarily need equal quantities of everything.

If you know your guests strongly prefer chicken and boerewors, for example, allocate more of your total order to those products.

The important number is the overall amount of meat, followed by a sensible split based on what your guests are likely to eat.

Don’t Forget the Side Dishes

The rest of your menu has a significant impact on how much meat you’ll need.

If your event includes plenty of filling sides, guests may eat smaller portions of meat.

Common sides could include:

• Pap
• Rice
• Bread or rolls
• Potato dishes
• Salads
• Vegetables
• Chakalaka

If you’re serving starters, snacks and dessert as well, you may not need to plan for unusually large meat portions.

On the other hand, if you’re hosting a meat-focused braai with only a few sides, allowing a little more per guest can make sense.

Consider Who You’re Catering For

A simple headcount doesn’t always tell the full story.

An event with 30 adults may require more meat than a children’s birthday party with the same number of guests.

Before placing your order, consider:

Adults vs children: Children generally require smaller portions.

Appetites: You know your guests better than any generic calculator does.

Event duration: A short lunch and an all-day gathering may have different food requirements.

Other food: Starters, snacks, sides and desserts all contribute to how much people eat.

Dietary requirements: Not every guest may eat every type of meat you’re serving.

Should You Order Extra Meat?

Ordering slightly more than your exact calculation can provide a buffer for larger appetites, unexpected guests or uneven portioning.

However, that doesn’t mean you need to dramatically over-order.

If you’ve calculated that your event requires around 15kg, adding a reasonable buffer may be more practical than ordering several additional kilograms without a clear reason.

For larger events, confirm your guest numbers as accurately as possible before placing your final order.

How Much Meat Do You Need for 100 People?

For 100 adults, using the 250g–350g guideline would mean approximately 25kg to 35kg of boneless meat.

If it’s a meat-focused braai and you plan around 400g per person, that increases to approximately 40kg.

Your final quantity should account for:

• Whether cuts are bone-in or boneless
• Number of meat varieties
• Number and size of side dishes
• Children in the group
• Expected appetites
• Other courses being served

For an event of this size, planning your quantities before purchasing becomes particularly important.

What Meat Works Well for Large Events?

When catering for many people, it helps to choose meats that can be prepared efficiently and portioned easily.

Depending on your menu, options can include boerewors, chicken portions, beef cuts, pork sausages and selected lamb cuts.

Using several options also gives guests more choice without requiring every person to receive a full serving of every meat.

Ordering Meat for a Party or Event in Pretoria or Johannesburg

Industrial Butcher supplies beef, chicken, pork, lamb and boerewors for parties, braais, family gatherings and other events across Pretoria and Johannesburg.

For larger gatherings, we can assist with bulk meat orders and custom meat orders based on the cuts and quantities you require.

Before ordering, have an estimate of:

• Your number of guests
• Adults and children
• Types of meat you want
• Whether you’re serving a full meal or braai
• Approximate budget
• Any specific cuts or quantities you require

This makes it easier to put together an order suited to your event.

Need Meat for Your Next Event?

Whether you’re catering for 10 people or 100, planning the right amount of meat can help you control your budget while making sure there’s enough food for your guests.

Industrial Butcher can help you put together a meat order for your next party, braai, family gathering, corporate function or event.

Contact Industrial Butcher: 084 037 8238