Ham Size Calculator – How Much Ham Do You Need?
Are you planning a holiday ham dinner and wondering how much you’ll need for your guests? Take the guesswork out of estimating the amount of ham needed with this handy calculator.
Ham Size Estimate:
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Joe is the creator of Inch Calculator and has over 20 years of experience in engineering and construction. He holds several degrees and certifications.
Chef Shannon is a menu and recipe developer, food stylist, private chef, and author of the book The All-American Lemonade Stand.
How Much Ham Do You Need?
Planning the holiday meal down to the last cranberry can be a daunting task, but planning how much ham to make for a crowd of any size is easy when you follow these simple guidelines.
First, take into account the number of guests, the type of ham you plan on serving, and how much in leftovers (you’ll definitely want leftovers!) you want.
Whichever size ham you choose, be sure to allow enough cooking time. The USDA suggests baking at 325 °F (160 °C) until it reaches an internal temp of 145 °F (63 °C) and then letting it rest for 3 minutes, or 140 °F (60 °C) to reheat a pre-cooked smoked ham.[1]
How Much Boneless Ham Do You Need?
The folks at the Honeybaked Ham Company have been experts in all things ham since 1957, and they recommend 1/2 pound of ham per person. However, take into account those larger appetites and again…leftovers! What’s a holiday without a midnight ham sammy?[2]
Use the following chart to help plan the right amount of ham based on the number of guests you’re expecting.
| Number of People | Amount of Boneless Ham |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 2 – 3 lbs |
| 6 – 8 | 3 – 4 lbs |
| 8 – 10 | 4 – 5 lbs |
| 10 – 12 | 5 – 6 lbs |
| 15 – 20 | 8 – 10 lbs |
| 25 – 30 | 13 – 15 lbs |
How Much Bone-in Ham Do You Need?
According to the domestic goddess herself, Martha Stewart, she recommends 3/4 of a pound of ham per person for bone-in hams. She’d also advise saving that flavor-soaked ham bone for future soups and stews![3]
This chart shows the estimated amount of bone-in ham for your holiday dinner party.
| Number of People | Amount of Bone-in Ham |
|---|---|
| 4 – 6 | 3 – 4 1/2 lbs |
| 6 – 8 | 4 1/2 – 6 lbs |
| 8 – 10 | 6 – 7 1/2 lbs |
| 10 – 12 | 7 1/2 – 9 lbs |
| 15 – 20 | 9 – 15 lbs |
| 25 – 30 | 19 – 22 1/2 lbs |
Be sure to set your countdown to Easter or Christmas to ensure you have enough time to find the right size ham!
Considering serving turkey instead? Plan the amount needed using our turkey size calculator.
References
- Food Safety and Inspection Service | USDA, Hams and Food Safety, https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat/hams-and-food-safety
- The Honey Baked Ham Company, How Much Ham Per Person Will You Need?, https://www.honeybaked.com/whole-ham
- Martha Stewart, Ham 101, https://www.marthastewart.com/268082/ham-101