Find out how many pounds of ice to buy for your party based on guest count and how long it runs.
Caterers commonly plan for about 3/4 lb to 1 lb of ice per guest per hour, covering both drinks and any ice needed for coolers or chilling food.
Total Ice (lb) = Guests × Hours × 0.75 lb
40 guests over a 4-hour party needs about 120 lb of ice.
A common guideline is about 1-1.5 lbs of ice per person for drinks only, or more if you're also using ice for coolers/food chilling.
Coolers need to maintain a cold temperature over hours, requiring significantly more ice mass than what's simply added to individual drinks.
Yes — longer events need more ice, both because ice melts over time and because guests will refill drinks more times throughout a longer gathering.