Stocking a bar for a party or event is one of the hardest numbers to estimate blind. Too little and you're making a liquor store run mid-party; too much and you've sunk cash into bottles that go home unopened. Here's the actual math behind a realistic bar budget.
The rule of thumb: one drink per guest per hour
Most caterers plan around roughly one drink per guest per hour, then split that total across liquor, wine, beer, mixers, and ice based on your bar style and how many of your guests actually drink. It's a starting point, not a guarantee, but it's a far better baseline than guessing.
Your bar style changes the math
A full open bar pouring beer, wine, and liquor costs differently than a beer-and-wine-only bar, a wine-only bar, or a craft cocktail bar where every drink is liquor-forward and made to order. The more your bar leans on liquor and craft cocktails, the more the per-drink cost shifts toward spirits instead of beer or wine.
What actually goes into the estimate
A realistic estimate prices out a standard 750ml liquor bottle at around 17 pours, a 750ml wine bottle at around 5 pours, beer by the can or bottle, plus a per-drinker allowance for mixers and garnish and a separate one for ice. Multiply those out across your guest count and bar style, and you get a real dollar figure instead of a guess.
Treat it as a planning number, not a quote
This is a planning estimate, not a quote: real pricing depends on your specific brands, local taxes, and where you buy. Use it to get in the right ballpark before you start shopping or calling vendors.
Run your own numbers with the free Bar Cost Calculator. Want it handled for you instead of shopped and stocked yourself? See our bartending packages.
