How Many Charcuterie Cups Do I Need? A Party Size Guide
Individual charcuterie cups are the easiest way to serve a crowd. Every guest gets their own little board, nobody hovers over a platter, and cleanup takes minutes. The question we get asked most is simple: how many do I actually need? Here is the quick answer, plus a shopping list so you buy the right amount of food.
The Quick Answer
Plan on 1 charcuterie cup per guest if other food is being served, like a lunch, a dessert table or a full meal. Plan on 1.5 to 2 cups per guest if the cups are the main appetizer or the party runs longer than three hours. Then add about 10 percent extra for second helpings and the guest who brings a plus one.
Charcuterie Cup Chart by Guest Count
| Guests | With a meal | Cups are the main appetizer |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 22 cups | 30 to 40 cups |
| 30 | 33 cups | 45 to 60 cups |
| 50 | 55 cups | 75 to 100 cups |
| 75 | 83 cups | 115 to 150 cups |
| 100 | 110 cups | 150 to 200 cups |
Hosting a wedding cocktail hour? Use the higher number. Guests are hungry, standing and grazing for an hour before dinner.
How Much Food to Buy
A well filled cup holds about 1 ounce of meat, 1 ounce of cheese, two or three crackers or a breadstick, and a few pieces of fruit. For every 25 cups, buy roughly:
- 1.5 to 2 pounds of sliced or folded meats like salami, prosciutto and pepperoni
- 1.5 to 2 pounds of cheese, cubed or cut into small wedges
- 2 boxes of crackers plus a box of breadsticks for height
- 2 pounds of grapes, berries or dried fruit
- A small jar of olives or cornichons and a bunch of fresh rosemary for garnish
Tall items like breadsticks, skewers and rosemary go in the back of the cup so every cup looks full from the front.
Which Cups Should You Choose?
For bridal showers and weddings
Clear cups show off the layers and look elegant on a dessert or grazing table. Our acrylic charcuterie and fruit cups are our best seller and come with mini forks or spoons. For something extra special, charcuterie domes with gold toothpicks keep everything fresh until guests arrive.
For rustic, garden and outdoor parties
Kraft charcuterie cups with fancy toothpicks and bamboo charcuterie cups fit farmhouse, boho and picnic themes perfectly.
For a statement display
Set your cups or cones on an acrylic cone stand so guests can grab one on the way in. It turns food into decor and saves table space.
How Far Ahead Can You Make Them?
Assemble cups the morning of the party, or the night before if you keep crackers separate and add them right before serving. Cover the tray with plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge. Hard cheeses and cured meats hold up best. Save soft cheeses and sliced apples for the last hour.
Ready to Order?
Every cup set comes in several pack sizes, so you can match your guest count from the chart above. Order at least two weeks before the party so you have time to do a test cup.
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