How Much Meat Do I Need Per Person? A Complete Australian Portion Guide 

 

 

 

Introduction

Figuring out how much meat to buy isn’t always straightforward. If you’re planning a weekend barbecue, family roast, dinner party or larger gathering, you want enough food for everyone without ending up with unnecessary waste or extra cost. As a general guide, allow around **250–350 grams of raw meat per person** when meat is the main part of the meal.

The right amount depends on what you’re serving, whether the meat is boneless or bone-in, how many side dishes you have and how hungry your guests are likely to be. A steak dinner, for example, needs a different calculation from a mixed BBQ with sausages, chicken, salads and bread.

This Australian meat portion guide explains how much meat you need per person for beef, lamb, chicken and pork. It also includes practical examples for barbecues, roast dinners and gatherings of 10, 20, 30 or 50 people, plus easy reference tables to help you work out how many kilograms of meat to buy.

 

How Much Meat Do I Need Per Person?

As a general starting point, allow 250–350g of raw meat per adult when meat is the main component of the meal. This gives you enough flexibility to account for different appetites, cooking methods and the amount of food being served alongside the meat.

The right portion will depend on the occasion. A meal with several substantial sides requires less meat than a BBQ where meat is the main attraction. Bone-in cuts also require a larger allowance because part of the purchased weight comes from the bone.

Type of meal	Recommended raw meat per adult
Main meal with several sides	200–250g
Standard BBQ	250–350g
Meat-focused BBQ	350–450g
Steak dinner	250–350g
Roast dinner	250–350g
Buffet or large gathering	200–300g

These amounts are a useful meat portion guide for Australia, but they shouldn't be treated as fixed rules. If you're serving a wide selection of salads, vegetables, bread and other substantial sides, you can generally work towards the lower end of the range. For a BBQ with fewer sides or a group of particularly hungry guests, the higher end may be more appropriate.

A Simple Way to Calculate Your Meat Requirements

The easiest way to work out how much meat you need per person is to multiply the number of guests by your chosen portion size.

Number of guests × grams of meat per person = total meat required

For example, if you're hosting 20 adults and plan to serve approximately 300g of meat per person:

20 × 300g = 6,000g

That means you'll need approximately 6kg of raw meat in total.

If you're serving several different meats, the 6kg can be divided between them. For example, a BBQ for 20 people might include 2kg of beef, 1.5kg of chicken, 1.5kg of sausages and 1kg of lamb.

Remember that these calculations refer to raw meat weight. Meat can lose weight during cooking due to moisture loss, rendered fat and, in the case of bone-in cuts, the weight of the bone. This is particularly important when you're planning a roast or slow-cooked meal.

 

How Much Meat Per Person for a BBQ?

Working out how much meat per person for a BBQ can be slightly different from planning a standard dinner. At a BBQ, guests will often eat several different types of meat rather than one large serving, so it's useful to calculate the total amount first and then divide it between your chosen cuts.

As a general guide, allow around 250–350g of raw meat per adult for a BBQ when you're also serving salads, bread, vegetables and other sides. If the BBQ is particularly meat-focused, with fewer substantial side dishes, you may want to increase this to around 350–450g per person.

For example, if you're planning a BBQ for 10 adults and allow 350g per person:

10 × 350g = 3.5kg of meat

You could divide that between several different options, such as:

• 1.5kg of beef or steak
• 1kg of chicken
• 1kg of sausages

This gives guests a choice without requiring you to buy 350g of every type of meat per person.

How Much BBQ Meat Per Person Should I Buy?

The amount you need will depend on the type of BBQ you're planning. A mixed BBQ with steak, sausages and chicken can work well with around 300–350g per adult, while a gathering centred around large steaks or other substantial cuts may require more.

It's also worth considering whether you're serving meat throughout the event or as a single meal. A long afternoon BBQ where guests are grazing may require a different approach from a sit-down dinner.

Children generally require smaller portions than adults, although this will vary considerably with age and appetite. Rather than simply applying the adult calculation to every guest, consider the overall mix of adults and children when working out how much meat you need for a family BBQ.

For larger gatherings, the same basic calculation applies:

Number of guests × meat allowance per person = total raw meat required

Once you've calculated the total, you can divide the quantity between beef, chicken, lamb, pork and sausages according to your menu. This is a much more reliable approach than trying to estimate each meat individually.

 

 

 

How Much Beef Do I Need Per Person?

Beef is one of the most popular choices for Australian BBQs, family dinners and special occasions, but the amount you need depends heavily on the cut you're serving. A boneless steak has a very different yield from a bone-in roast, while a slow-cooked beef cut may lose more weight during cooking than a quickly grilled steak.

As a general guide, allow 250–350g of raw boneless beef per adult when beef is the main protein. If you're serving beef alongside other meats, such as sausages and chicken at a BBQ, you can reduce the amount of beef and divide the total meat allowance between the different options.

How Much Steak Per Person?

For a typical steak dinner, 250–350g of raw steak per adult is a useful starting point. This will generally provide a substantial serving without being excessive, particularly when the steak is accompanied by vegetables, salad, chips or other sides.

The size of the steak also depends on the cut. A thick eye fillet or scotch fillet can provide a substantial meal at a lower weight than a large bone-in steak, while a sharing steak may be intended for several people.

If you're asking how much steak to buy per person, consider both the size of the individual steaks and whether you're serving other proteins. For a mixed BBQ, around 150–250g of steak per person may be sufficient when sausages, chicken or other meats are also on the menu.

How Much Beef for a Roast Per Person?

For a boneless beef roast, allowing around 250–350g of raw beef per adult is a practical starting point. You may want to increase this slightly when buying a bone-in roast because part of the overall weight comes from the bone.

It's also worth allowing for cooking loss. Beef generally becomes lighter during roasting as moisture and some fat are lost, meaning you shouldn't calculate your purchase based solely on the amount of cooked meat you want to serve.

For example, if you're preparing a roast dinner for 10 adults, allowing 300g of raw boneless beef per person means purchasing approximately 3kg of beef.

How Much Beef for a BBQ Per Person?

If beef is one of several meats at a BBQ, you don't need to allocate the full 250–350g allowance to beef. Instead, calculate the total amount of meat required and divide it between your chosen proteins.

For example, a BBQ for 20 adults might require around 6–7kg of total raw meat, depending on appetites and the amount of food being served. That could include 2–2.5kg of beef, with the remainder divided between chicken, lamb and sausages.

This approach makes it easier to offer variety while avoiding buying significantly more meat than your guests are likely to eat.

 

How Much Chicken Do I Need Per Person?

Chicken portions can vary considerably depending on which cut you're serving. Boneless chicken breast and thigh meat provide more edible meat per kilogram than wings or drumsticks, where some of the purchased weight comes from bones.

As a general guide, allow around 200–300g of raw boneless chicken per adult when chicken is the main protein. If you're serving chicken as part of a mixed BBQ alongside beef, lamb or sausages, around 100–200g per person may be enough.

How Much Chicken Breast Per Person?

For boneless chicken breast, 200–250g per adult is a useful starting point for a main meal. This could be one large chicken breast or two smaller portions, depending on their size.

If you're serving chicken breast with substantial sides such as potatoes, rice, pasta, vegetables or salad, you can generally work towards the lower end of the range.

For a BBQ where chicken is being served alongside other meats, you may only need around 100–150g of chicken per person, depending on how much of the other meats you're providing.

How Many Chicken Drumsticks Per Person?

Because drumsticks contain a bone, you need to buy more by weight to provide the same amount of edible meat. As a rough guide, 2–3 chicken drumsticks per adult is suitable for a main meal, depending on their size and what else you're serving.

For a mixed BBQ, one or two drumsticks per person may be enough when they're accompanied by steak, sausages or other meats.

How Much Whole Chicken Per Person?

When buying a whole chicken, the bone and other inedible parts mean the total raw weight is considerably higher than the amount of meat that ends up on the plate. A useful starting point is around 400–500g of whole chicken per adult, although the exact amount will depend on the size of the bird and the number of side dishes.

For example, if you're preparing a roast chicken dinner for four adults, a whole chicken weighing around 1.6–2kg may provide a suitable amount, particularly when served with plenty of vegetables, potatoes and other sides.

When calculating how much chicken you need for 10 people or a larger gathering, always consider whether you're buying boneless meat or bone-in portions. Using the same weight allowance for both can leave you with considerably less edible meat than expected.

 

How Much Lamb Do I Need Per Person?

Lamb is a popular choice for Australian roasts, BBQs and family meals, but the amount you need depends on the cut and whether it contains bone. For boneless lamb, around 250–350g per adult is a good starting point when lamb is the main protein.

For a BBQ where lamb is being served alongside beef, chicken or sausages, you can reduce the amount to around 100–200g per person, depending on how much of the other meats you're providing.

How Much Lamb Per Person for a Roast?

For a boneless lamb roast, allow approximately 250–350g of raw lamb per adult. If you're buying a bone-in leg or shoulder, increase the amount to account for the bone and cooking loss.

For example, if you're preparing a lamb roast for 10 adults, around 3–3.5kg of boneless lamb would provide a generous starting point. A bone-in roast may need to be larger to provide a similar amount of edible meat.

How Much Lamb for a BBQ?

When lamb is one of several meats at a BBQ, around 100–200g per person is generally sufficient. Lamb cutlets, chops and smaller portions work particularly well in a mixed BBQ because guests can combine them with steak, sausages or chicken.

If lamb is the main attraction, such as a BBQ centred around a butterflied lamb leg, increase the allowance towards 250–350g per adult.

Bone-In Lamb vs Boneless Lamb

The weight of bone-in lamb can be misleading when calculating portions. Lamb shoulder, leg and cutlets all contain varying amounts of bone, so you may need to purchase more raw weight than you would for an equivalent quantity of boneless lamb.

This is particularly important when working out how much lamb you need for 10 people or a larger gathering. If you're unsure, it's better to base your calculation on the specific cut you're buying rather than applying a single portion size to all lamb products.

 

 

 

How Much Pork Do I Need Per Person?

Pork can range from lean, boneless cuts such as pork loin and pork steaks to larger bone-in cuts such as pork shoulder and ribs. As a result, the amount of pork you need per person depends on the cut, how it's being cooked and whether you're serving it as the main protein or alongside other meats.

For a typical meal, allow around 250–350g of raw boneless pork per adult when pork is the main protein. For a mixed BBQ, around 100–200g per person may be enough when pork is being served with other meats.

How Much Pork Roast Per Person?

For a boneless pork roast, 250–350g per adult is a useful starting point. If you're buying a bone-in pork shoulder or another large bone-in roast, you'll need to increase the total weight to account for the bone and cooking loss.

For example, for a roast dinner for 10 adults, approximately 3–3.5kg of boneless pork would provide a generous amount of raw meat. A bone-in roast would need to weigh more to provide a similar quantity of edible meat.

How Much Pork for a BBQ?

If pork is one of several meats at a BBQ, around 100–200g per person is generally sufficient. This could include pork steaks, pork sausages or other smaller cuts served alongside beef, chicken or lamb.

If you're serving a pork-focused BBQ, you may want to increase the allowance to around 250–350g per adult, particularly if there are only a few substantial side dishes.

What About Pork Ribs and Other Bone-In Cuts?

Ribs require a different calculation because a significant proportion of their weight comes from bone. You therefore shouldn't use the same weight-per-person allowance as you would for boneless pork.

The same principle applies to other bone-in cuts: the more bone and trimming a cut contains, the more raw meat you'll need to purchase to achieve the desired amount of edible meat.

When planning how much pork you need for 10 people, 20 people or a larger gathering, consider the specific cut first, then adjust your total quantity accordingly.

 

How Much Meat Do I Need for 10, 20, 30 or 50 People?

Once you know the approximate amount of meat required per person, calculating the total for a larger gathering is straightforward. For a general BBQ or meal with several side dishes, 300g of raw meat per adult is a useful middle-ground estimate.

The table below gives you a quick guide to how much meat you need for 10, 20, 30 or 50 people.

Number of people	250g per person	300g per person	350g per person	400g per person
10 people	2.5kg	3kg	3.5kg	4kg
20 people	5kg	6kg	7kg	8kg
30 people	7.5kg	9kg	10.5kg	12kg
50 people	12.5kg	15kg	17.5kg	20kg

For most BBQs where meat is served with salads, bread and other sides, the 300g column provides a useful starting point. If you're hosting a group with larger appetites or serving a meat-heavy menu, consider moving towards 350–400g per person.

How Much Meat for 10 People?

For 10 adults, allow approximately 2.5–3.5kg of raw meat for a typical meal or BBQ. If you're serving a wide variety of substantial sides, 2.5–3kg may be sufficient. For a meat-focused BBQ, around 3.5–4kg may be more appropriate.

How Much Meat for 20 People?

For 20 adults, around 6kg of meat is a useful starting point when allowing 300g per person. You could divide this between several different meats, such as beef, chicken, lamb and sausages.

How Much Meat for 30 People?

For 30 adults, 300g per person works out to 9kg of raw meat. Increase this towards 10.5–12kg if the event is particularly meat-focused or you're catering for guests with larger appetites.

How Much Meat for 50 People?

For 50 adults, a 300g allowance means approximately 15kg of raw meat. For a large BBQ with fewer side dishes, you may need closer to 17.5–20kg.

For larger events, remember that these figures are starting points rather than exact requirements. The type of meat, bone content, side dishes, cooking method and number of children all affect the final amount you should buy.

 

How to Get Your Meat Portions Right

Working out how much meat you need per person doesn't have to be complicated. For most meals, allowing around 250–350g of raw meat per adult provides a useful starting point. For a BBQ with plenty of sides, around 300–350g per person is generally a practical estimate, while a meat-focused gathering may require closer to 400g.

From there, consider the type of meat you're buying. Bone-in cuts require a larger allowance than boneless meat, while steaks and other individual portions are easier to calculate than large roasts. If you're serving several different meats, calculate your total requirement first and then divide it between the options on your menu.

For example, if you're hosting 20 people and allow 300g per person, you'll need approximately 6kg of raw meat. You could then divide that between beef, chicken, lamb, pork and sausages depending on what you're serving.

It's also important to consider your side dishes and guests. A BBQ with salads, bread, potatoes and vegetables will generally require less meat than an event where meat is the main focus. Children may also require smaller portions than adults, while larger appetites may justify a little extra.

If you're planning a BBQ, family dinner or larger gathering, using these calculations as a starting point can help you buy enough meat without significantly over-ordering.

Order Meat for Your Next Gathering

Once you've worked out how much meat you need, choosing the right cuts is the next step. University Meat offers a wide selection of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and other quality meats, making it easier to plan everything from a family dinner to a larger BBQ.

Whether you're buying steak for a small gathering or several kilograms of mixed meat for a larger event, calculating your portions before you order can help ensure you have enough for everyone while reducing unnecessary food waste.

 

 

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