Ciao,
Order 0.7 pizzas per guest. That is the whole answer, and it comes from counting what people actually eat at our events, not from a formula somebody made up for a website. A 50 guest party needs about 35 pizzas. The rest of this post is about when to trust that number and when to nudge it.
The Quick Reference Table
- 25 guests: about 18 pizzas
- 50 guests: about 35 pizzas
- 75 guests: about 53 pizzas
- 100 guests: about 70 pizzas
- 150 guests: about 105 pizzas
These are 12 inch pizzas cut into slices, the size we bake. If you are comparing quotes, ask every caterer what size pie their count is based on, because a "pizza" ranges from 10 to 18 inches depending on who is selling it.
When to Round Up
Teenagers and athletes. A team banquet or a party full of 16 year olds eats closer to a full pizza each. We have watched it happen. Plan 0.9 to 1.0 per guest.
Pizza is the only food. If there is no other main on the table, hold the 0.7 or go slightly above it. The factor already assumes pizza is the centerpiece, but a long evening with nothing else moves people back for thirds.
Long service windows. A four hour open house grazes more than a two hour dinner party. Same guests, more trips.
When to Round Down
Heavy appetizers or a dessert-forward event. If a charcuterie spread lands first or cake is the point of the evening, 0.5 to 0.6 per guest covers it.
Lots of small children. Kids under ten realistically split slices. Count two small kids as one guest and you will be close.
Gluten Free and Vegan Guests
They count inside your total, not on top of it. What matters is telling your caterer the number of each, so the right dough and toppings are on the truck. We carry both at every event where they are requested.
What About Drinks?
For private events most hosts run their own drinks, and that works fine alongside our service. At guest-paid public events we stock 20 ounce sodas and waters at the tent.
Or Skip the Math Entirely
When you book with us, this arithmetic is our job. Tell us the guest count and the occasion, and the menu comes back sized correctly, with the 0.7 factor, your crowd's quirks, and our 60 pizza per hour oven capacity already baked in. There is also a calculator on our booking page that runs the numbers for your headcount in one click.
Planning a party in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, or the Phoenix Metro? Send us your date and guest count and we will take it from there. Buon appetito.