Adjust for your crowd
Enter how many of your guests are kids; each counts as half an adult.
Coleslaw for other crowd sizes
tap a row for its own list ↓| Guests | Cups | Quarts |
|---|---|---|
| 10 people | 6 | 1.5 |
| 20 people | 11 | 2.8 |
| 25 people | 14 | 3.5 |
| 30 people | 17 | 4.3 |
| 40 people · you're here | 22 | 5.5 |
| 50 people | 28 | 7 |
| 75 people | 42 | 10.5 |
| 100 people | 55 | 13.8 |
| 150 people | 83 | 20.8 |
| 200 people | 110 | 27.5 |
22 cups (about 5.5 quarts) for 40 people. Keep the bowl in a larger bowl of ice on the buffet.
How many people do 12 cups of coleslaw serve?
Feeds about 24 people.
Everything else for 40 people
How we got this number
- 140 guests × 1/2 cup = 20 cups
- 2× 1.10 cushion = 22 cups
- 3rounded up → 22 cups
cups of dressed slaw, the way it goes on the plate.
Food safety: keep coleslaw cold until serving and don't leave it out more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (USDA).
Sources for this rule: USDA Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs; Food Network Barbecue Party Calculator; Univ. of Illinois Extension chart (via Almanac); Old Farmer's Almanac party chart; USDA FBG; ezCater.
Coleslaw questions
How much coleslaw for 40 people?
Make or buy 22 cups of coleslaw (about 5.5 quarts). That's 1/2 cup per guest, plus a 10% cushion. Range: 17–28 cups depending on appetite.
What if 8 of the 40 guests are kids?
Kids count as half an adult, so it's 36 adult portions: make or buy 20 cups of coleslaw (about 5 quarts).
How much coleslaw for 40 big eaters?
For a hungry crowd, plan 25% more: make or buy 28 cups of coleslaw (about 7 quarts).
How many people do 12 cups of coleslaw serve?
Feeds about 24 people.
Different headcount? The coleslaw calculator works for any number of guests, and the menu planner builds one shopping list for the whole party.