Free planning tool
How much will your bar need?
Set your guests, hours and what people drink. Get drinks, bottles, ice, bartenders and every glass to rent.
Plan about two drinks per guest in the first hour and one per hour after. 120 guests over five hours is about 720 drinks. A bottle of wine pours five glasses and a 750 ml bottle of spirits about sixteen drinks. Rent one glass of each type per guest if the bar washes glasses, more if it doesn't.
Two drinks in the first hour and one an hour after is a common planning rule, not a measurement. Adjust it for your crowd.
1 if the bar washes and reuses glasses; more if it doesn't. Ask your caterer.
Go higher on hot days.
Your staffing choice. Fewer means shorter lines.
720
Drinks in total
6 per guest over 5 hours
2
Bartenders
About 1 bar at two bartenders each
58
Bottles of wine
288 glasses
216
Beers
9
Bottles of spirits
144 drinks, 750 ml
180 lb
Ice
Glassware to rent
- Wine glasses180
- Beer glasses180
- Rocks glasses180
- Highball glasses180
- Champagne flutes120
- Water goblets120
Rough rental cost at our catalog prices
| 180 × Wine glass | $149 |
| 180 × Beer / pilsner glass | $149 |
| 180 × Rocks glass | $149 |
| 180 × Highball glass | $149 |
| 120 × Champagne flute | $100 |
| 120 × Water goblet | $100 |
| 1 × Portable bar | $77 |
| Items total | $874 |
Items only, before delivery, setup and fees. Prices are based on local rental companies' published rates plus our booking fee; the rental company confirms the final quote for your date.
Please serve responsibly. Check your venue's and your town's rules on serving alcohol; many venues require a licensed bartender or caterer.
How it works
Using the bar and glassware calculator
- Step 1Guests and hoursOnly guests of drinking age.
- Step 2Drink mixWine, beer, cocktails, soft drinks.
- Step 3Glasses and iceHow many per guest, and the toast.
- Step 4Price the glasswareRough cost, then a quote.
The method
How we work out the numbers
Drinks per guest = first-hour drinks + later drinks × (hours − 1). Total drinks are split by your mix. Wine bottles = wine drinks ÷ 5; spirit bottles = cocktail drinks ÷ 16; beer and soft drinks count one per serving. All are rounded up.
Glassware is guests × glasses per guest for each drink type you serve, plus one flute per guest for a toast and one water goblet per seat if chosen. Bartenders are guests ÷ your guests-per-bartender, and bars assume two bartenders each. Count your tables with the tables and chairs calculator and cocktail highboys there too.
Questions
Bar and glassware calculator: FAQ
How many drinks per guest should I plan for?
How many glasses of wine are in a bottle?
How many drinks are in a bottle of liquor?
How many glasses should I rent?
How much ice do I need?
How many bartenders do I need?
Keep planning
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