How this calculator works
These are the portions in the Gousto guide to how much food to buy at Christmas: 200 g of roast potatoes (250 g for big fans), 80 g each of parsnips, carrots and sprouts, 100 g of stuffing, three pigs in blankets, 150 ml of gravy and 100 to 125 g of Christmas pudding. Cranberry sauce is 60 g a head as a side. The turkey uses the same 675 g a head as the Christmas turkey calculator. Children count as half. Everything is rounded up to a weight you can buy.
Worked example: 8 adults and 2 children is 9 servings, so 6.5 kg of turkey, 2 kg of roast potatoes, 0.75 kg each of parsnips, carrots and sprouts, 27 pigs in blankets and 1.4 litres of gravy.
Ready-worked amounts for a set number of guests: Christmas dinner for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or 20 people.
Assumptions and sources
The assumptions behind your numbers (waste, sizes, rates) are listed in the notes directly under your results, and they update when you change an input.
The formula and a worked example are shown above, so you can check any result by hand. Read how we calculate and check our numbers. Results are estimates for planning: supplier products vary, so check the size printed on the label.
Christmas dinner for common guest counts (standard portions)
Turkey and vegetables in kilograms, pigs in blankets counted, gravy in litres.
| Guests | Turkey | Roast potatoes | Sprouts | Pigs in blankets | Gravy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 kg | 1 kg | 0.5 kg | 12 | 0.6 L |
| 6 | 4.5 kg | 1.5 kg | 0.5 kg | 18 | 0.9 L |
| 8 | 5.5 kg | 2 kg | 0.75 kg | 24 | 1.2 L |
| 10 | 7 kg | 2 kg | 1 kg | 30 | 1.5 L |
| 12 | 8.5 kg | 2.5 kg | 1 kg | 36 | 1.8 L |
| 15 | 10.5 kg | 3 kg | 1.25 kg | 45 | 2.3 L |
| 20 | 13.5 kg | 4 kg | 1.75 kg | 60 | 3 L |
Tips before you buy
- Count teenagers as full adults and young children as half portions.
- Order the turkey early and plan the fridge space for thawing: a frozen bird needs days.
- Parboil and roughen the roast potatoes the day before, and prepare the sprouts, carrots and parsnips in advance, to free the oven on the day.
- Stuffing, pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce can all be made ahead; cook the pigs in blankets while the turkey rests.
- Cool leftovers quickly and get them into the fridge within a couple of hours.
Quick answers by size
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How much food do I need for Christmas dinner for 10 people?
For 10 adults: 7 kg of turkey, 2 kg of roast potatoes, 1 kg each of parsnips, carrots and sprouts, 30 pigs in blankets, 1.5 litres of gravy and 1,250 g of Christmas pudding.
How many roast potatoes per person for Christmas?
Allow 200 g a head, or 250 g for big roast potato fans: 2 kg for 10 adults at 200 g.
How many pigs in blankets per person?
Three is the usual allowance, and four allows for some disappearing before dinner: 30 for 10 adults at three each.
How much gravy per person at Christmas?
About 150 ml a head, so 1.5 litres for 10 adults.
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Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check the Building Regulations and your supplier's guidance before ordering.