How Many Pizza's Should I Order for 20 People?

Do you need help determining how many pizzas to order for your social group of 20 people or more? Knowing how much pizza for 20 people is enough to fill everyone's belly and provide a solid meal can be challenging. You want to make sure that there is enough to go around, but of course, you also want to make sure that you don't have an extreme excess that ends up going to waste.

There are several important factors to take into consideration when determining how much pizza for 20 people is appropriate. These elements include what kind of gathering you are serving food at, what time of day the gathering is taking place, whether all of the people are adults or if there will be children present, and more. And, of course, things like dietary restrictions or personal preference can come into play as well. It's easy to see why people search for the answer to this question online so frequently. Figuring out how many pizzas to order for 20 people can get complicated fast.

Luckily, here with our pizza catering, we're pros when it comes to figuring out the right amount of food to order for a party or event. Keep reading to learn the answer below, along with other helpful serving tips for big groups.

Figuring Out How Much Pizza to Order

We'll get right down it and give you the answer immediately. For 20 adults you should order 8 large pizzas. This may seem like an arbitrary number, but there's actually a pizza ordering formula that can help you figure out the proper amount to order for any size group.

When serving adults at a regular mealtime, go by what is known as the 3/8 pizza rule. This rule assumes that a large pizza is cut into 8 slices, and to figure out how much pizza for 20 people you simply multiply 20 x (3/8). If you are solving the equation for a different size group, simply change out the first number before completing the math. For example, if you need to know how much pizza to order for 16 people, complete 16 x (3/8).

You may get a fraction as the final result when completing the math. If this is the case, it's always best to round the final number up. For example, if the result is 7.88, round up to get 8 pies. It's always better to have a tiny bit extra than to leave people hungry.

Where Does the 3/8 Pizza Rule Originate?

You may be wondering why to multiply the size of your group by 3/8. The answer is fairly straightforward. When serving a large group, it's fair to assume that some people will eat more than others. Some people may have just one slice of pizza, or perhaps not eat at all. Others may be very hungry and consume 3+ pieces of pizza.

The 3/8 pizza rule assigns an average number of slices per person, assuming that on average each person will eat three out of the eight slices in any given pie, with a generous cushion for wiggle room.

Exceptions to the Rule

Of course, there are exceptions to the 3/8 pizza rule that may impact how much pizza for 20 people is necessary at a specific event. For example, if a portion of your guests will be children it's safe to assume that they will not likely eat as much as adults. They have smaller bellies, after all. When adjusting for kids at events, turn the 3/8 pizza rule into the 2-slice rule and account for two slices of pie per child. Keep the 3-slice rule per adult, and add the two numbers of slices together before dividing by 8.

Next, think about what time of day your event or party is taking place, as well as what guests will be doing immediately before and after. For example, is your gathering around dinner time when adults will need to come directly from work before stopping anywhere else? If so, they're likely to be hungrier and consume more pizza. Ordering up may be the way to go if this is the case. Or, is the gathering at an odd time, such as the middle of the morning when people are likely to have been at home right before their arrival? If this is the case it may be safer to round down and go a little light on the number of pies.

Order Hungry Howie's® for Your Next Event

If you're having a party, large meeting, or any other event and need to feed a big group of people, Hungry Howie's® pizza is the way to go. We have vegetarian options, menu items for meat lovers, salads, subs, pasta, and so much more in addition to our beloved pies. There's something for everyone on the list! Additionally, we have desserts, soft drinks, and of course all of the plates and utensils you'll need for the complete serving package.

Place your order for Hungry Howie's® catering today and we'll be sure to satisfy all your guests with delicious pizza and more!