Bartender Calculator
How many bartenders do you need? Get the staffing number for your wedding, party or event, plus the crew that goes around them.
Staff
How many bartenders per guest?
It depends on what you serve and on how big the event is. Pouring wine is fast; shaking a Margarita is not. And on large events each bartender covers more guests, because the bars multiply and the queue spreads out. The table below is what the calculator uses, and it comes off real event staffing:
| Bar service | 100 guests | 300 guests | 1000 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beer / Wine / Soft drinks | 2 | 4 | 10 |
| Mixed bar (spirits + mixers) | 2 | 5 | 10 |
| Cocktail bar | 3 | 8 | 16 |
| Cocktail heavy | 4 | 9 | 20 |
Support staff comes on as the event grows: a barback from about 80 guests, runners and glass collectors on medium and large events, and extra dinner runners while a seated service is out, roughly one runner per 25 guests on a mid-size dinner, easing to about one per 60 at large events. Staffing is a range, so the calculator gives you three levels: minimum, recommended and comfortable.
Frequently asked questions
How many bartenders do I need for 50 guests?
One bartender can handle about 50 guests on a simple beer and wine service, but a cocktail menu for 50 guests needs 2 bartenders. Add a barback if the bar is busy or far from storage.
How many bartenders do I need for 100 guests?
Typically 2 for a beer & wine or mixed bar, 3 for a cocktail bar and 4 for a cocktail-heavy menu, plus at least one barback.
What does a barback do?
A barback restocks ice, bottles and glassware so the bartenders never leave the station. From roughly 80 guests up, a bar without one starts queueing.
When do I need runners or glass collectors?
On medium and large events (150+ guests) add runners to move product and glass collectors to keep glassware turning. For a seated dinner plan roughly one runner per 25 guests on a mid-size event, easing to about one per 60 at large ones.
Now calculate what your bar needs.
Staff is step one. Then come the ice, the bottles per product, the cocktail ingredients and a shopping list you can export to Excel.
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