Pizza Calculator – Find How Many Pizzas to Order
Have a crowd to feed and need a quick, easy, and delicious meal for the party? We’ve got you covered!
Enter the number of guests and calculate how many pizzas you should order.
Pizzas Needed:
| small pizzas | |
| medium pizzas | |
| large pizzas | |
| extra-large pizzas |
On this page:
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 Many Pizzas Do You Need?
When it comes to pizza, knowing how many pies to order means the difference between a great gathering and a so-so one.
The amount of pizza you need for a party will vary by the number of guests, their hunger level, and the type of pizza ordered.
A little recon is helpful: What’s the occasion? Teenager birthday? The big game at your house? Family picnic? How many guests will there be and are there sides like salad or breadsticks? And finally, what style of pizza is on the menu? Deep dish or thin crust? Take into account those one or two (or five) guests who want a meat, dairy, and gluten-free pizza (I know. I know).
Plan for three slices per grown-up and two per child if you’re going with the classic crust. If your Pizza Palooza falls in a traditional mealtime like lunch or dinner, pad your portions by one or two slices per person.[1]
Standard pies range between 8 to 10 slices, so for instance, a large pizza would work for three adults and four to five children (depending on their ages).
And that brings us to the pizza formula.
The Pizza Formula
Many slices, er ‘scientific studies’ later, we’ve arrived at the perfect pizza-ordering formula.
p = 3a / 8
Thus, the number of pizzas p you should order is equal to 3 times the number of guests a, divided by 8.
This works for any style of pizza. Even the experts at Green Lantern Pizza suggest a ratio of 3/8 is ideal for ordering so that even the last one to arrive isn’t left sliceless![2]
On that note, if you’re planning a party, you should check out our cake calculator to estimate how much cake you’ll need as well.
How Many Pizzas Should You Order?
The following chart shows how many pizzas to order for your party.
| Guests | Pizzas Needed |
|---|---|
| 5 | 2 pizzas |
| 10 | 4 pizzas |
| 15 | 6 pizzas |
| 20 | 8 pizzas |
| 25 | 10 pizzas |
| 30 | 12 pizzas |
| 40 | 15 pizzas |
| 50 | 19 pizzas |
Pro Tips When Ordering Pizza for a Group
Here are a few tips to consider before you order.
Order the largest size: In the grand pizza paradigm, it’s really best to order the largest sizes, which are cheaper overall and can even be cut into smaller slices.
Look for deals: Scope out deals for large-volume orders. Many pizzerias will toss in freebies like breadsticks, salads, drinks, or desserts if you call ahead and ask (especially if you are part of an organization because great reviews and referrals are critical).
Pick up instead of delivery: Save some serious dough (pun intended) and pick up your pies at a pre-arranged time so you can avoid delivery fees and waiting in a crowded pizza parlor with other peckish pizza lovers.
If you’re also in charge of hosting Thanksgiving or Easter, check out our turkey size and ham size calculators.
References
- Brittany Burke, The Right Amount of Pizza to Order for a Party, https://www.thekitchn.com/the-right-amount-of-pizza-to-order-for-a-party-242283
- Fichter, C., How Many Pizzas Do You Need to Order?, Green Lantern Pizza, https://greenlanternpizza.com/blog/how-many-pizzas-do-you-need/