Meat Per Person Calculator
Figure out how much raw meat to buy for a crowd, adjusted for appetite, kids, sides, bone-in cuts, and cooking yield (pulled pork and brisket lose ~40-50% of their raw weight).
How these estimates work
Portions, half portions for kids, the 40% reduction for heavy sides, rack counts and cooking yields are catering planning conventions, not measured results for your cook. For example, 0.5 lb cooked per adult divided by a 50% planning yield means 1 lb raw per adult. Trim, bones, moisture loss and retained juices change the result.
For comparison, the USDA Food Buying Guide reports cooked lean-meat yields of 46% for boneless brisket with 1/4-inch trim, 52% for bone-in Boston butt with 1/4-inch trim, and 60% for boneless Boston butt with 1/4-inch trim. These are specific purchased cuts and trimmed lean-meat outputs, not a guarantee of backyard BBQ yield. The calculator retains its approximate BBQ planning factors. Source checked October 15, 2026.
Round up on cheaper proteins; leftovers freeze and reheat well. Read the full method in How Much Meat Per Person.
Frequently asked questions
How much pulled pork per person?
About 1/3 to 1/2 pound cooked per adult. Pork shoulder yields roughly 50% after cooking, so buy about 1 pound of raw shoulder per person.
How much brisket per person?
Around 1/2 pound cooked per adult as the main. A trimmed packer loses about half its weight, so buy roughly 1 pound of raw brisket per person.
How do I adjust for kids and sides?
Count kids as about half an adult portion, and if the meat is one of several proteins or you have heavy sides, reduce the per-person amount by roughly 40%. This calculator handles both.